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BEST OF DURHAM
24 27 Best Bars & Restaurants
From celebrated Michelin-recommended standouts and longtime local institutions to impressive newcomers, inventive global cuisine and so much more, these readervoted favorites represent some of the very best of the Bull City’s dining scene
44 Just Desserts
A sweet summer starts at four reader-favorite spots serving decadent, must-try treats
46 What’s New?
Step inside four of Durham’s best recently opened businesses and meet a mix of dedicated entrepreneurs reshaping hospitality, retail and personal care in the Bull City
54 Pet Shop
Get to know the furry ‘empawlees’ bringing charm, comfort and plenty of personality to some of Durham’s best businesses
60 Shelf Expression
Decorating with Durham’s best finds – from vintage treasures to modern accents, these retail favorites prove shopping local never goes out of style
70 Feeling Good
Clients share how these beloved health and wellness businesses help them thrive, from transformative treatments to trusted, compassionate care
80 Kitchen Think
60
Top designers reveal the inspiration, challenges and smart solutions behind beautifully reimagined projects in the heart of the home
96 Milestone Moments
Celebrating the institutions, creative spaces and local favorites that have earned readers’ votes – and shaped the Bull City community – for years
108 Best of Durham 2026 Award Winners
130 Threads of Kindness
Note in the Pocket receives the fourth annual Best of Durham Social Impact Award
FEATURES
134 Make a Splash
A backyard transformation elevates daily life for this busy family
144 Past & Present
Historian Jean Bradley Anderson reflects on life, learning and the evolution of the city she helped chronicle
DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS
8 Letter From the Editor
10 The Big Picture
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
12 Go.See.Do.
Can’t-miss events this summer
18 Get Out of Town
Top Triangle events this season
20 New Bites
Now serving: the latest Bull City restaurant news
22 Tomorrowland
Triangle Land Conservancy Executive Director
Sandy Sweitzer shares her vision for Durham’s future
PEOPLE & PLACES
148 Museum of Life and Science’s Invent the Night Gala
150 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
151 Kidznotes’ Harmonies in Bloom Gala
152 Angels Among Us 5K
153 Market on Market Street Grand Opening
154 Harper’s Home Groundbreaking Ceremony
156 Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting
158 Downtown Durham Inc.’s State of Downtown Durham
ENGAGEMENT & WEDDING
159 Davis & Richardson
160 Belay & Mungall
24
BY
PHOTO
JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
A River Runs Through It
Asentiment shared during my riveting discussion with historian Jean Bradley Anderson has stayed with me for weeks: “If you could make a comment about life,” she said, “it is that things are connected in a very strange way, but they are connected.
One thing leads to another, but you can’t possibly, at least in my case, steer. You just go.”
Not long after, while taking a rare peek through my personal email, I came across a message sent to my old neighborhood’s listserv. The Eno River Association and the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission had organized a hike at West Point on the Eno to offer a first look at a newly protected parcel of land now under the ERA’s stewardship – land that just so happens to sit adjacent to my current neighborhood. I’d wanted to visit this area since I’d learned of it, and suddenly, here was an opportunity to explore it alongside the folks who fought so hard to preserve it.
So I just went. What I didn’t know beforehand: Kerstin Nygard and Jennifer Nygard, daughters of ERA founder Margaret Nygard, would join the hike. Along the trail, they paused to reflect on the work their mother and so many others – Jean, another founding member, included – undertook to protect the very ground beneath our feet; ground shaped by Indigenous communities, enslaved and
COVER
Photo by John Michael Simpson
formerly enslaved people, the Mangum family and generations of Durham residents who have cherished every season along the banks of the Eno.
The experience sharpened my awareness of what Jean described so perfectly: the strange, nearly invisible threads that connect us, that quiet feeling that, somehow, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
I felt it again while catching up with Megan, Brad and Graham Weddington at Seraphine and assisting photographer John Michael Simpson during his shoot with Daniel Sartain and Nellie Vail at Bar Virgile for their Best of Durham features (turn to page 24 to learn more on those wins!). I noticed it while chatting with Courtney Hayes as she masterfully styled the rooms in her home – perched along the edge of Best of Durham-winning neighborhood Watts Hospital-Hillandale – layering pieces from local shops with an effortless eye for detail (page 60). And it came to my attention during Downtown Durham Inc.’s State of Downtown event at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park when I received a baseball-style “trading card” featuring none other than the late Margaret Nygard herself.
These moments have given me a calm confidence that wherever I go, I’m meant to be there. I hope this Best of Durham issue inspires you this summer to follow your own threads across our city to revisit old favorites or discover somewhere new and simply go Trust me, there’s plenty waiting to be explored.
amanda.maclaren@durhammag.com
Explore the fave local finds and statement pieces behind Courtney Hayes’ colorful, collected style.
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MAKE PLANS
Head to our Triangle-wide event calendar for the top events in Durham and beyond.
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Perfect Perspective
I could’ve walked around the atrium at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University all afternoon, just watching sunlight and drifting cloud patterns dance across the floor. Instead, I wandered through “Everything Now All At Once” – a collection full of bold, thought-provoking contemporary works that somehow made me lose track of time in the best way; it made it easy to see why the Nasher earned best art gallery and best museum honors in this year’s Best of Durham poll. New pieces rotate into the exhibit this June, and it all runs through Nov. 1, which means there’s still plenty left to discover. – by John Michael Simpson
Summer Concerts in the Park
JUNE 13 & 27, JULY 11 & 25 AND AUG. 8 & 22
Durham Parks and Recreation brings back this family-friendly summer pastime at Bull City parks. Pack your blankets and lawn chairs for live outdoor music (rain or shine!) from emerging local artists spanning a range of genres: Blue Cactus June 13 at Duke Park; Sabrosura June 27 at Forest Hills Park; Dr. Bacon July 11 at Duke Park; Damion Rashad July 25 at Forest Hills Park; Ally J Aug. 8 at Duke Park; and The Wilson Springs Hotel Aug. 22 at Forest Hills Park. Bring your friends, family, dancing shoes and an appetite to enjoy delectable fare from on-site food trucks while soaking in quintessential summer vibes.
see go
do
Prism
JUNE 27
Pride, play and discovery come together at the Museum of Life and Science during this joyful, all-ages celebration! Explore the 84-acre campus while engaging with storytimes, crafts and science activities led by community partners like Rainbow Collective for Change. Hands-on experiments and animal encounters invite guests to rethink assumptions and investigate the rich diversity of the natural world, while rainbow-themed moments pop up across the grounds for a colorful day of connection and curiosity.
Arts on East
WEDNESDAYS, THROUGH JUNE 24
Gather your friends, family and picnic blankets and head to Duke University’s East Campus for a free outdoor concert series from Duke Arts Presents. The weekly lineup, hosted by Stormie Daie, spotlights regional and Durhambased acts including Meltdown Rodeo, Lua Project, Brandon Woody’s Upendo, Rebecca Porter and Zoocrü – curated in tandem with community partners to highlight the breadth of artistic voices that shape our city. Browse a community market organized by Kamara Thomas, grab a bite from The Palace International and rotating food trucks, or tune in on WXDU 88.7 FM if you can’t join in person.
CAN’T-MISS EVENTS THIS SUMMER
Compiled by Libby Wakefield
PHOTO
PHOTO BY ROBERT ZIMMERMAN
Children’s Independence Day Parade
JULY 4
Bring the whole family down to Durham Central Park for this Fourth of July celebration! Decorate bikes, tricycles, wagons or strollers with ribbons, trinkets and other colorful flair before joining the festive parade through the park. Cool off and recharge afterward with hot dogs, brews and free popsicles, then let the little ones explore Durham Fire Department trucks to round out a perfectly patriotic morning.
Frederick Douglass Community Reading
JULY 4
Historic Stagville State Historic Site hosts this annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Volunteers deliver the address in full, inviting reflection on the nation’s history as the country marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The program takes place in front of the historic slave quarters and Great Barn at Horton Grove, which attendees may explore afterward. Bring a chair or blanket and experience Douglass’ powerful, enduring words, first delivered on July 5, 1852.
The Notebook
JULY 14-19
Nicholas Sparks’ romantic novel – and iconic film adaptation – comes to life at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Follow the story of Allie and Noah, a couple from two different worlds whose love unfolds in New Bern, North Carolina. Co-directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif and “The Wiz” revival director Schele Williams, the classic heartwarming tale returns to its home state in a sweeping musical production centered on devotion, memory and enduring love.
BEST OF THE FESTS
American Dance Festival
THROUGH JULY 25 | One of the world’s largest and most influential modern dance festivals returns for its 93rd annual season, bringing 26 acclaimed dance companies and choreographers to Durham for 49 performances across venues including Duke University’s Reynolds Industries Theater, Page Auditorium and von der Heyden Studio Theater, as well as the Carolina Theatre, Jewish for Good and ADF’s Samuel H. Scripps Studios. The 2026 program features nine world premieres, 12 ADF commissions, and 13 company and choreographer debuts, including performances by celebrated groups like the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and the Charlotte Ballet. Dedicated to the late ADF director emeritus Charles L. Reinhart, ADF Executive Director Jodee Nimerichter says the season “tells a powerful story about our rich history and exciting future” as it celebrates both the legacy and prospect of modern dance through boundary-pushing compositions, international collaborations and community-centered programming, from site-specific works at Mutual Tower to partnerships with Carolina Performing Arts, Hayti Heritage Center and more.
Beaver Queen Pageant
JUNE 6 | Since 2005, the Beaver Lodge Local 1504 has proudly staged this quirky celebration of folly, pageantry and humor. Contestants channel beaver personas as they compete for the Beaver Queen title through fashion, talent and stage presence. This year’s theme, “Beaver Rivalry,” playfully nods to friendly competition and Canadian culture. Join the fun at Duke Park with a preshow at 4 p.m. followed by the main event at 5 p.m., plus live music, food trucks, a Poetry Fox appearance, crafts with the Scrap Exchange and more.
Beaver tails and costumes are encouraged for this free, familyfriendly fundraiser supporting Keep Durham Beautiful and Friends of Ellerbe Creek
PHOTO COURTESY OF HISTORIC STAGVILLE STATE HISTORIC SITE
PHOTO BY ROGER MASTROIANNI
PHOTO BY STEPHEN PISANO
PHOTO BY LYN STUART
Summer Block Party
JULY 18
Celebrate reading, summer and community at Book Harvest’s sixth annual free outdoor event. Head to Durham Central Park for a lively afternoon filled with family-friendly activities and entertainment, plus take home your picks from an abundant selection of free, culturally inclusive children’s books for readers of all ages – from infants through high schoolers.
The Wallflowers
AUG. 9
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the landmark 1996 album “Bringing Down the Horse” during this special performance at the Carolina Theatre. Led by songwriter and guitarist Jakob Dylan – son of iconic folk-rock artist Bob Dylan – the Grammy Award-winning rock group performs the album in sequence, showcasing the record that helped define its decades-long career and legacy of acclaimed albums and soundtrack appearances. The band, which has shared the stage with Eric Clapton, The Who and The Rolling Stones, also pays tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 1982 album “Long After Dark” in honor of the group’s 50th anniversary.
BY
PHOTO
YASMIN THAN
Best Museum
Best Event Space
Best Family Outing
The Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top-rated destinations, an interactive science center and nature park with animals and 84 acres of open-ended experiences. From bears and dinosaurs to train rides, treehouses, NASA artifacts, and butterflies from around the world, there’s something for everyone. Join us in 2026 as we celebrate 80 years in Durham!
433 W. Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704
lifeandscience.org
919-220-5429
Top Triangle events this season
MOSAIC BEACH MUSIC SERIES
June 12 & 26 Unwind at Chatham Park’s mixed-use community with live concerts on the lawn, featuring a Carolina-born sound that blends soul, R&B and pop into an upbeat, danceable vibe perfect for summer nights. Grab a bite and a drink from on-site vendors or Mosaic restaurants like Greek Kouzina, Hops & Berry Taproom and Jersey Mike’s. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, and shag the night away under the stars!
CAPITAL CITY
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
June 20, 2-6:30 p.m. Head to Dorothea Dix Park for an afternoon of reflection that honors the abolition of slavery in the U.S. This gathering brings the community together around live entertainment, children’s activities, local vendors and food, creating a space to celebrate history, culture and unity. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and experience the spirit of this meaningful annual event rooted in remembrance and community connection.
PRIDE PIPER WALK & ORGULLO PRIDE CELEBRATION
June 26, 4:30-8 p.m. Join in as Town of Carrboro officials roll Rainbow Ram down Weaver Street, beginning at El Centro Hispano and ending at Carrboro Town Commons, during this festive Pride event celebrating the diverse cultures, identities and experiences of our local Latinx LGBTQ+ community. Explore food trucks, drag performances, music, dancing, kids crafts, and tables offering resources, support and advocacy for queer residents.
OUT! RALEIGH PRIDE
June 26, 6-10 p.m., and June 27, noon-7 p.m. An integral part of Raleigh’s downtown culture, this annual event promotes diversity, awareness and inclusiveness for the LGBTQ+ community while raising funds to support the LGBT Center of Raleigh and all of its essential programs. Friday evening, adults 18 and older are welcome to enjoy entertainment and vendors; Saturday, family-friendly festivities include food trucks, a kids zone, artists, live music and more.
JULY FOURTH DRONE SHOW
July 4, 7-9:45 p.m. Mark the nation’s 250th anniversary and head to Chapel Hill High School early with your blankets and chairs for a good spot at this first-ever Fourth of July drone show – featuring 300 synchronized drones using light and color to create magical displays – hosted by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture.
‘HELLO, DOLLY!’
July 16-26 See some of the best high school talent around perform in PlayMakers Repertory Company’s Summer Youth Conservatory musical. This year, the cast and crew put on a production of “Hello, Dolly!,” the Tony Award-winning musical that follows the bold and charismatic matchmaker Dolly Levi as she orchestrates love, inserts herself into her clients’ affairs and proves she’s the most unforgettable fixer of all.
GALAXYCON RALEIGH
July 23-26 Venture into the world of all things comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime at this four-day festival of fandom at the Raleigh Convention Center. Meet beloved entertainers, from celebrities and voice actors to writers and artists – and join in the fun with after-parties, photo ops and more.
BEER, BOURBON & BBQ FESTIVAL
July 31, 6 p.m., and Aug. 1, noon and 2 p.m. This quintessentially Southern festival features more than 60 beer offerings, 40 bourbon brands and all forms of barbecue – from whole-hog pulled pork to ribs, brisket and all the fixins you can imagine – over two days at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Admission includes a souvenir sampling glass to enjoy all the beer and bourbon your heart desires; lawn games like cornhole and giant Jenga; live rock, blues and bluegrass music; seminars with master distillers, brewmasters and pit masters; and exhibits of hot sauces, barbecue accessories, cookware and more.
2025 Head to our Triangle-wide event calendar for even more summer festivities
SCAN FOR SEATS!
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF CARRBORO
Now Serving: THE LATEST BULL CITY RESTAURANT NEWS
• Cheeni Indian Food Emporium at Horseshoe at Hub RTP has expanded its offerings and shifted its service model, moving to allday café hours following guest feedback and growing demand for daytime dining in the area. The restaurant is now open Monday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., serving its lunch menu, an expanded happy hour and evening large plates. Evening pre-set menus will transition into a rotating, event-style series led by chef and owner, two-time James Beard award semifinalist Preeti Waas, with details forthcoming. The bar program is also expanding with new cocktail, wine and beer offerings.
• David Chapman and Christy Chapman expanded their local coffee footprint March 13 with the opening of a second Bean Traders location. The new space at 4001 N.C. Hwy. 54 sits just down the road from the original Homestead Shopping Center cafe.
• Bella Napoli Pizzeria and Italian Grill closed its doors at 3511 Witherspoon Blvd., Ste. 107, after four years in business.
• Flying Bull Beer Company closed its Ninth Street taproom and coffee shop in February. Owners Joel Miles and Anna Bloch plan to shift focus to their larger brewery and restaurant space on Morris Street in the Durham Innovation District
• Dram & Draught rolled out its spring cocktail menu across its Triangle locations, showcasing a refreshed lineup built around bright ingredients and layered flavor profiles. In Durham, the seasonal offerings include cocktails that highlight the bar’s playful yet balanced approach to mixology. The Cherry Bomb blends London dry gin with Cointreau, cherry lime oleo, cherry bitters, lime and soda for a tart, effervescent sip anchored by rich cherry notes. The Queen’s Knees offers a lighter, floral-forward profile, combining peach-apricot infused gin with honey lemon for a subtly sweet, citrus-driven cocktail. Guests can find these and other seasonal standouts alongside a broader menu that blends inventive new creations with Dram & Draught’s well-known classic cocktails and premium spirits program.
• JP’s Pastry celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 7072 N.C. Hwy. 751, Ste. 108, with a ribbon cutting ceremony March 14. The certified gluten-free bakery offers a wide selection of signature desserts, pastries, artisanal breads, pastas and more.
• Proximity Brewing Company closed its doors at 491 S. Driver St. to focus on revamping its business model and exploring the possibility of opening a new location. They will continue to offer their products through wholesale partners.
• Capital One Café, a hybrid bank-café concept at The Streets at Southpoint, celebrated its grand opening April 21. The space, located at 6910 Fayetteville Rd., Ste. 154, offers banking services, craft coffee from California-based Verve Coffee Roasters, sandwiches, pastries and reservable workspaces. Artwork by painter and designer Julia Harmon and multidisciplinary artist Steven Page Prewitt decorates the spot, and Capital One debit and credit card holders receive 50% off handcrafted beverages.
• Lutra Cafe and Bakery is slated to open its brick-and-mortar at American Tobacco Campus in June. The popular pop-up bakery, founded in 2024 by chef-owner Chris McLaurin, has built a following through farmers markets and collaborations with businesses across the Triangle. The 2,600-square-foot counter-service café at 312 Blackwell St., Ste. 102, adjacent to Ment Beverage Co., will offer rotating baked goods,
COMPILED BY STEPHANIE HUGHES
including buns, breads and soft pretzels, along with breakfast and brunch dishes, coffee, beer and wine. It will seat 36 indoors and 20 on the patio. Hours will run 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends.
• Ponysaurus Brewing Co.’s High Horse cannabis-infused sparkling beverages earned three High Spirits Awards at the L.A. Spirits Awards. The limeade flavor received platinum honors, while the pineapple hibiscus and blood orange yuzu varieties each earned silver.
• As of press time, Little Barb’s Bakery is slated to exit the Durham Food Hall at the end of May after three years in the downtown space. Owner Barbara Nigro says the bakery plans to reopen in a standalone brick-and-mortar location, though a new address has not yet been announced. In the meantime, Little Barb’s continues to sell goods through pop-ups, including at The Can Opener
• Downtown bar Coupe & Stein and adjacent Belt Line Station have closed.
• Fizzwerks, known for its beverage-forward seltzer bar concept, has closed its doors after a little over a year in business.
• Ashleigh Bakes Daily is relocating into a new space at 111. W. Main St. above Primrose Bar & Lounge. Owner Ashleigh Ratchford began her business in February 2021, selling cookies online and then from a small space behind Fillaree. She’s occupied 307 W. Main St. for nearly a year, but plans to open the new storefront in June.
• Dosirak is expanding from its popular pop-up roots into the same Downtown Durham Inc. incubator space for emerging women and minority-owned businesses that Ashleigh Bakes Daily is vacating. Korean convenience store concept Dosirak Outpost will offer graband-go food items, cooking ingredients and a wall of ramen cups for customers to browse.
• Gerald Allen of Houston’s Bar and Lounge is transforming the former Missy Lane’s Assembly Room space at 310 E. Main St. into a new concept called Lincoln’s, a supper club-style venue.
• Little Waves Coffee Roasters ranked No. 49 among the best coffee shops in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, earning recognition at the World of Coffee gala in San Diego on April 11. A panel of more than 200 experts evaluated 4,600 coffee shops on coffee quality, barista skill, innovation, sustainability and community impact. Coffee enthusiasts contributed to 30% of the final score, while industry professionals accounted for 70%.
PHOTO BY STACEY SPRENZ
Preserve & Protect
BY SANDY SWEITZER
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Tomorrowland is a column in which community members share their visions for Durham’s future. With more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience –much of it rooted in North Carolina – Triangle Land Conservancy Executive Director Sandy Sweitzer has guided the organization through a period of significant growth and community impact. During her tenure, TLC has opened three new public nature preserves, more than doubled the pace of land protection, and cultivated a staff and board that represent the community TLC serves. Outside of work, Sandy enjoys traveling, biking, gardening, and visiting her children in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
When my family moved from California to Fayetteville, North Carolina, almost 30 years ago, we dreamed of living in the Triangle.
I was hired to start the Durham Library Foundation, establishing endowments to support the library for generations. Although my husband worked in Raleigh, I insisted we live in Durham to enjoy the rich history, diversity and access to nature. Since then, I’ve grown and changed alongside the city – although it’s now much hipper than I am.
I left DLF to focus on conserving natural resources with The Nature Conservancy, which operates its statewide efforts out of Durham. After five years traveling the state with TNC, I wanted to make a difference closer to home. Following brief stints at both Durham and Orange County Habitat for Humanity affiliates, I was recruited to Triangle Land Conservancy in 2013 and became executive director in 2015.
I’m inspired every day by TLC’s mission: working with partners to protect land for – not from – people. We provide the benefits of conservation to everyone: clean water and climate-resilient landscapes, farmland that provides food and jobs, and access to outdoor space for recreation and respite.
Conservation benefits you even if you never step foot on one of TLC’s eight free public nature preserves. TLC works with local governments to protect land upstream to naturally filter Durham’s drinking water supply. We also collaborate with Durham County to keep farmland available for community farmers like those at Catawba Trail Farm and Earthseed Land Collective. If you enjoy time in nature, TLC provides hundreds of acres to explore throughout the Triangle.
Our largest preserve, Horton Grove Nature Preserve, is just north of downtown and features trails that share stories of descendants of enslaved people who labored at the nearby Stagville plantation, now a state historic site.
Durham’s past and future are inextricably tied to land – who owns it, who doesn’t and how it is used. For thousands of years, Indigenous people stewarded this land. Later, plantation owners built wealth using enslaved people’s labor. Next, textiles and tobacco shaped how our county grew and who reaped the benefits. And as our area becomes an increasingly attractive place to newcomers and developers, we must make choices that enable everyone to flourish.
Open spaces across the Triangle face unprecedented pressure from rapid growth, rising land prices and a changing climate. Just as we need land for homes and businesses, we must also protect wild and working lands for the health and wellbeing of Triangle residents.
That’s why, in 2023, TLC launched our largestever fundraising campaign – “Force for Nature: A Campaign to Protect the Triangle’s Land & Water for All” – to raise $60 million by June 30, 2026, in order to accelerate the conservation and care of land, water and community across our growing region. Thanks to generous financial gifts and land donations, TLC has less than $300,000 left to raise. Campaign funds have been put to work immediately, enabling our organization to conserve an additional 6,000 acres of land in perpetuity, open an eighth nature preserve at Old Creedmoor in Raleigh and strengthen our education programming.
But we cannot stop. Today we have another 4,000 acres of land in the pipeline to be protected. We need the sustained support of our community to maintain this momentum. If you’d like to join this historic moment, you can make a donation at triangleland.org
Durham still has the same spirit of opportunity and perseverance that attracted me decades ago. As our community continues to grow, our choices will shape the city that future generations inherit. I invite you to invest in that future by supporting TLC’s work. Together, we can create a safer, greener, more resilient Durham for generations to come.
Sandy Sweitzer at Triangle Land Conservancy’s largest public preserve, the 708-acre Horton Grove Nature Preserve in Bahama.
BEST BARS & RESTAURANTS
From
celebrated Michelin-recommended standouts and longtime local institutions
to impressive newcomers, inventive global cuisine and so much more, these reader-voted favorites represent some of the very best of the Bull City’s dining scene
A NEW STANDARD
Fresh faces and fast favorites
Nostalgia gets dialed up to 11 at Dino’s Pizza, one of the newest pizza and pasta spots to hit the Bull City.
Led by chef Tom Cuomo and backed by Best of Durham chef Matt Kelly, Dino’s is an homage to Northeastern red sauce joints. Think thin-crust, western New York-style pizzas; classic pastas; affordable, tasty wines and beers; and more. This is truly a menu for the whole family, from the piping hot fried mozzarella and pepperoni pizza for the kids, to the spicy artichoke pizza and Italian chop salad for the grown-ups. The pizza logs will be familiar to anyone who grew up near Buffalo, New York (imagine egg rolls, but pizza-fied), and the chicken Parmesan with rigatoni in vodka sauce is an absolute mustorder. With multiple big screens to watch the games (calling all Bills fans), and a large patio perfect for family gatherings, Dino’s is old school reimagined in all the best ways. – ML
The scent of warm spices drifts from the kitchen as dishes loaded with bright broths, chutneys, lemon rice and pakoras are passed among guests in the dining room at Cheeni Indian Food Emporium at Horseshoe at Hub RTP
Mother-daughter duo Preeti Waas and Amy Waas expanded their signature blend of refined homestyle Indian cooking and heartfelt hospitality to a second location inside Research Triangle Park late last year, marking an ambitious new chapter for the family-run restaurant while staying grounded in the sense of connection that first resonated with diners in downtown Durham, earning the culinary brand a place
BY RENEE AMBROSO, MATTHEW LARDIE, AMANDA MACLAREN, KATRINA M C LEAN & MORGAN CARTIER WESTON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
among our readers’ fave spots for vegetarian and Indian fare as well.
As the restaurant settles into this new home, the team continues to evolve its offerings in response to guest feedback and the growing energy around Horseshoe’s expanding dining and entertainment scene. Cheeni RTP now operates with all-day cafe hours from noon to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, offering its lunch menu alongside expanded happy hour options and evening large plates. The restaurant recently introduced new cocktails, wine and beer offerings, while shifting its prix-fixe dinners into a more event-driven series cooked by Preeti herself.
Being named among Durham’s best new restaurants is “huge,” Amy says. Preeti adds that the recognition brings “an immense amount of gratitude to the people who uplift Cheeni.” That sense of community appreciation remains woven into every aspect of the new space. An open kitchen – a rarity in many Indian restaurants, Preeti says – invites guests into the experience while reflecting both transparency and ambition.
“We are nothing if not bold,” Preeti says.
Amy describes the restaurant’s aesthetic as “intentionally pretty,” a key component of ensuring visitors feel “warm and welcomed” the moment they walk through the door. That same philosophy extends to their staff across both locations, whom Preeti calls “the backbone of the hospitality we’re able to provide.”
As Cheeni grows, Preeti says the mission remains unchanged: preserving the restaurant’s deeply personal roots. “[My hope is that it] does not stray from its absolute core of being maternal and rooted in my heritage and being family-led,” she says. – KM
PHOTO BY FORREST MASON
ABOVE Amy Waas and Preeti Waas at Cheeni Indian Food Emporium in RTP. LEFT Crispy, cheesy and packed with flavor, Dino’s pepperoni pizza pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s western New York-style pizza logs.
One of the newer entries in chef Oscar Diaz’s growing culinary empire, Tataco has quickly become one of downtown’s most dynamic dining destinations, a celebration of Mexican flavors, complete with housemade tortillas, fresh coastal seafood and a menu that stretches well beyond tacos. Diners start not with traditional chips and salsa, but rather a cheesy, hot bean dip that has no peer in the Bull City. The enchiladas get a glow-up, too, served short stack, pancakestyle rather than rolled and smothered. The pescado zarandeado brings the Pacific flavors of Nayarit and Sinaloa to Durham – a whole, fresh North Carolina-caught fish is butterflied, basted in a smoky, pepper-forward sauce and grilled to perfection. Other unexpected delights include the birria clams, the salmon poblano and the carne con chile (braised beef in a guajillo sauce with beans, rice and cactus). Top it off – or rather, wash it down – with one of the most innovative margarita and paloma menus in Durham, and taco night just got a whole lot more interesting. – ML
BNew Mexico. “I [had a] desire for more of this food that I really love,” she says. “It’s gratifying to see others fall in love with it.”
That passion shines through Hatch’s deeply comforting green chile stew, a staple, Talitha says, that’s “at the heart of a New
reakfast and lunch spot Hatch Burritos got its start in 2017 when co-owner Talitha Benjamin started selling egg, potato and chile-packed breakfast burritos at the now-shuttered Accordion Club, which she co-owned, in downtown’s DIY District
“At the time, there weren’t any other breakfast burritos [available] around here,” Talitha says.
She continued hosting pop-ups after leaving the bar in 2022, following what she describes as an overwhelming appetite for the cuisine that she grew up with in
and roasted Hatch green chiles create layers of savory heat. It’s served with a warm flour tortilla from Del Norte Tortillas, perfect for sopping up every last morsel.
The smothered breakfast burritos are another soulful and comforting menu standout. “It’s a very New Mexican way of serving a breakfast burrito,” Talitha says. “Everything is absolutely smothered in what we call ‘Christmas-style,’ which is half green and half red chile – in our case, that’s eight ounces of additional chile.”
Salsa and other menu items evolve with the seasons – expect a fresh pico de gallo during tomato season, while late summer often brings green chile corn chowder to the lineup. – RA
PHOTO BY LAUREN VIED ALLEN
breakfast at Hatch Burritos, order the breakfast burrito “Christmas” style — smothered in both red and green chile.
PHOTO BY AMANDA MACLAREN
WANGECHI MUTU
MamaRa�, 2020
MamaRa� b� Wangechi Mutu redefines what it means to enter a museum.
Experience her in the Sculpture Garden at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke Universit�.
Photograph b� Rand� Dodson, courtes� of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
STAR POWER
Michelin-recommended dining destinations
wo-time James Beard Award-finalist chef Oscar Diaz transforms memory, migration and technique into dishes that feel both inventive and deeply familiar at his tapas restaurant, Little Bull. The Old Five Points restaurant, which opened in 2023, earned a recommendation in the Michelin Guide’s inaugural selection for the American South – the first-ever regional edition since Michelin began covering North America in 2005 – further cementing Oscar’s reputation as one of the region’s most exciting culinary voices.
TLittle Bull – named one of Durham’s best overall restaurants as well as lauded for its take on Mexican cuisine and for its “Top Chef” – serves what Oscar describes as “pocho cuisine,” a reference to the Spanish slang word for Mexican emigrants and a nod to the fusion of cultures that shaped his upbringing and palate.
Menu highlights include the birria dumplings, a playful and decadent reinterpretation of a dish Oscar grew up eating in Jalisco, Mexico.
“Another is the capirotada, which is a Jalisco-centric dish with a bourbon goat’s milk dulce de leche,” Oscar says. “It’s a bread pudding that makes everyone feel nostalgic when they eat it.”
That balance between creativity and comfort defines the dining experience at Little Bull. Oscar wants guests to encounter new flavors and ingredients while still leaving with “the feeling of being nurtured,” he says.
Behind the scenes, the kitchen’s technical precision drives every plate. The team breaks down whole animals, renders fats in-house and focuses on low-waste, sustainable methods.
“We use herb stems to make oils, fish heads and bones to make stocks [and] then skim and save the fat to cook with, and dehydrate veggie scraps to make seasonings,” Oscar says.
Even with its ambitious approach to food, Little Bull feels unfussy – a laid-back, cordial energy where you can belly up to the bar on a weeknight and the friendly bartender will indulge your curiosities with genuine and thoughtful insights. A couple tapas turns into a half-dozen, and you can’t help but order dessert because it’s all about living in the moment – deliciously. – RA
Step into Seraphine on a balmy evening, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported to a moody, upscale Baton Rouge eatery. Owners and brothers Graham Weddington and Brad Weddington aimed to channel those vibes when they opened in American Tobacco Campus, and given the recent nod from the prestigious Michelin Guide – plus readers naming Seraphine among the best overall restaurants, best seafood spots and one of Durham’s top date-night destinations – it’s clear they succeeded. Executive chef Christopher Garrett’s polished dishes like the Drago’s-style oysters (a famous New Orleans method of preparing chargrilled oysters), Cajun boiled peanuts, Louisiana-style barbecue shrimp and more bring a bit of the bayou to the Bull City. The market catch crudo – this one features lobster
ABOVE From fried lion’s mane mushrooms, Drago’sstyle oysters and Cajun boiled peanuts to tuna-andlobster crudo and barbecue shrimp, this spread delivers a hearty taste of Louisianainspired flavor. But for Brad Weddington, “Boiled crawfish will always be king for me. I literally crave it and will create my travel schedule around boiled crawfish.”
intimate
and conversation – a great way to start any date night.
for
RIGHT The bar at Nanas offers an
setting
cocktails
PHOTO BY LAUREN VIED ALLEN
– is perfect for a hot summer night on the patio, and the Fox Farm & Forage’s fried lion’s mane mushrooms with pistachio pistou, fava beans, sweet peas, charred red onion and a balsamic vinaigrette would tempt even the most die-hard of meat eaters over to the veggie side. – ML
There is perhaps no better comeback story in the Triangle dining scene than Nanas – long a Bull City staple under former chef/owner Scott Howell and brought back to life (as well as redesigned and reinvigorated) by new chef/owner Matt Kelly, voted among the best chefs in Durham, and chef/partner Nate Garyantes.
The duo honor the restaurant’s 1992 roots while leaning confidently into contemporary cooking. Its inclusion in the Michelin Guide affirms what local diners already knew: Nanas is special. Durham Magazine readers certainly think so, naming it one of the city’s best overall restaurants and a top choice for date night. The menu blends Italian and French influences with local ingredients, all served in a warm, retro-modern dining room that hums with energy. A perfect dinner might be some chicken liver mousse and beef tartare at the bar, washed down with an ice-cold martini, or the cast-iron pan-roasted North Carolina chicken and rye tagliatelle with duck ragout in the revamped dining room. The uvo raviolo (literally a single, large ravioli) is a show stopper and social media star, and the banana pudding bombe might just put your own grandma’s banana pudding to shame. – ML
Durham has had its fair share of Greek restaurants – many under the aegis of prolific restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias – but Nikos stands above the rest. Locals named it one of the best spots in Durham for Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, and its inclusion in the Michelin Guide only further cemented its reputation on a regional scale. Also part of the Giorgios Group, Nikos blends modern cuisine with Greek tradition, both in style and taste. The interior is Athens warehouse-meetscoastal Aegean village, and the menu features expert takes on Greek staples like branzino (served with cauliflower puree, capers, celery, lemon and parsley sauce), and pastisio (Nikos’ version is filled with braised short rib). The Flaming Opa is as visually striking as it is delicious – a piping hot, quite literally flaming, dish of Opa cheese served with sourdough crisps and walnut shallot jam. Add in outdoor dining on the interior patio of Brightleaf Square, and an evening spent lingering over a meze platter and a bottle of crisp, white Greek wine starts to sound like the perfect seasonal ritual. – ML
PHOTO BY FORREST MASON
OF LAND AND SEA
Surf, turf & beyond
If the M Restaurant Group is chef Mike Lee’s crown, then M Sushi is the jewel shining atop it. Readers named the downtown standout among Durham’s best destinations for sushi, Asian cuisine and seafood, and anyone who’s managed to snag one of its coveted reservations understands why. M Sushi specializes in Edomae-style sushi – clean flavors, impeccable sourcing and technique so refined it feels effortless. That philosophy extends to the minimalist decor, which keeps the focus squarely on the pristine sashimi and nigiri, expertly formed rolls and other meticulously prepared dishes. Looking to expand your
Adding to the M-pire
Just when it seemed chef Mike Lee might slow down, he revealed his next venture: M Hansik, a return to the Korean fare that shaped his childhood.
“My heart is Korean cuisine,” he shared at a recent gathering in downtown Durham. “I’m excited to cook for you what we eat after work,” he added before hinting at even more concepts in the pipeline. He’s remained tight-lipped on details about M Hansik’s menu, but diners can certainly expect the same precision, thoughtful technique and deep respect for tradition that define the other M Restaurant Group restaurants. Set to open this summer at Wye Junction in the former Plum space, M Hansik further underscores Mike’s ongoing investment in downtown’s dining scene. – ML
horizons beyond sushi? The donburi hot stone bowl arrives layered with garlic shrimp, wasabi tako, assorted fish roes, oshinko and crispy shallots. The black cod, smoked tableside, delivers a bit of theater alongside bold flavor, while the lobster prepared shabu-shabu style with crustacean butter, pineapple puree and guajillo chile powder puts a standard lobster roll to shame. For celebrations, the multi-course omakase remains the ultimate experience, especially with guidance from the staff on wine, sake and beer pairings that turn dinner into the kind of meal you’ll recount for years to come. – ML
At Saltbox Seafood Joint, chef Ricky Moore lets North Carolina’s coastal bounty speak for itself.
The 2022 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southeast and 2025 Outstanding Chef semifinalist first introduced Durham diners to his polished fast-casual seafood concept through a tiny, service-window-outfitted shack on North Mangum Street before relocating to the restaurant’s current Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard space in 2017. Through every iteration, Ricky has remained committed to showcasing the variety and abundance of seafood sourced from along the Carolina coast – earning him accolades year after year for the best seafood dishes in Durham.
Each day’s offerings appear handwritten across a chalkboard menu, reflecting whatever the restaurant’s
LEFT M Sushi’s chirashi bowl with assorted sashimi over sushi rice pairs beautifully with a crisp Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale.
ABOVE James Beard Award-winning chef Ricky Moore showcases the abundance of North Carolina’s coast with a daily lineup of fresh seafood at Saltbox Seafood Joint.
fishing partners hauled in fresh that morning. The catches of the day are served fried Calabashstyle (lightly dredged in dry corn flour) or spicegriddled, and all plates come piled high with Saltbox staples like shredded herb-and-citrus “S.S.J.” slaw and Ricky’s signature “hush-honeys” – airy, slightly sweet hush puppies that have developed a cult following of their own.
Ricky’s decades in fine dining shape the menu’s thoughtful execution, but the Saltbox experience is as easy-breezy as the shoreline itself. The restaurant balances precision with approachability, delivering carefully prepared seafood in a relaxed setting that keeps the focus squarely on freshness and flavor – capturing the spirit of the seaside in every bite. – RA
More than a decade after opening beside the Durham Performing Arts Center, NanaSteak continues to build upon what makes it one of Durham’s favorite steakhouses: impeccable service, thoughtful sourcing and an experience that feels equal parts celebration and escape.
Co-owner Brad Weddington says the restaurant has evolved alongside Durham itself. Early on, the team focused on becoming a neighborhood steakhouse with an expansive menu and the ability to quickly and cordially serve pre-show crowds headed to DPAC. Then came the challenges of the pandemic, rising costs and supply shortages – all of which pushed NanaSteak to sharpen its focus.
“We switched over to just what we could find as far as the highest-quality ingredients that we could do,” Brad says. “We want to make sure the experience is as best as we can make it.”
That commitment shows up everywhere, from Prime steaks sourced from top producers to longtime partnerships with local farms like Lyon Farms, whose tomatoes and okra star in the restaurant’s beloved heirloom tomato salad. Topped with fried okra and corn salsa, the seasonal dish has become a summertime staple that regulars eagerly await each year. “Honestly, it kind of makes me a little giddy,” Brad says of the salad. Pair it with a watermelon margarita for peak summertime joy.
Just months after opening its doors, Nerra has already become one of Durham’s buzziest reservations –earning Best of Durham honors for its seafood, date night vibes and chef Alexis Lawson’s standout culinary vision.
“It feels very surreal,” chef Lex says of the recognition. “It’s an amazing honor to be recognized for three distinct categories as a brand new restaurant. … It’s further confirmation that we are on the right path and love that our passion is felt by voters.”
That path blends coastal-inspired flavors, warm hospitality and an atmosphere designed for lingering. Inside the softly lit dining room, rustic textures and cozy corners create an intimate backdrop for couples sharing plates and cocktails late into the evening. Lex recommends starting date night with Nerra’s housemade bread flight – pumpernickel, rosemary biscuits and cornbread baked in-house – alongside the Nerra shrimp stuffed with crab, spinach and Parmesan. From there, couples often split the whole roasted red snapper, one of Lex’s favorite dishes on the menu, now available fried or roasted. “Our dishes reflect our belief that guest preference comes first,” she says. Finish with one of the housemade desserts – offered at half price every Friday.
For Brad and co-owner Graham Weddington, both front-of-house veterans, hospitality remains the heart of the restaurant. Guests may come for a perfectly cooked steak or an expertly prepared cocktail, but Megan Weddington, director of operations, says what keeps people returning is the familiar and personable culture the team has built.
“We want people to walk away and just have this feeling of, ‘I’m so glad we did that,’” Brad says. “Like, ‘Wow, I really needed this.’” – AM
The experience doesn’t have to end with dinner. Nerra transforms into an upscale late-night lounge complete with elevated small plates, cocktails, DJs and hookah service on the patio every Saturday night from 10:30 p.m. till 2 a.m.
Whether guests arrive for a romantic meal, a seafood feast or cocktails under dim lighting, Lex hopes they leave “feeling full and refreshed” after experiencing the restaurant’s intentional service and welcoming energy. And stay tuned for lunch hours launching in June. “We are excited to have an approachable lunch menu that feels light and filling for our guests,” Lex says, “so they are able to return to work energized and ready to complete the workday.” – AM
ABOVE An oven-roasted whole snapper at Nerra.
BELOW Co-owner Brad Weddington describes dinner at NanaSteak as an escape from the everyday: “When people come in, we don’t want them to have to worry about anything.”
“When we opened Delafia, the vision was to create the kind of wine bar you stumble into in Europe and immediately want to stay all night — casual, welcoming and centered around great conversation and discovery,” says Delafia owner Jesse Gerstl. “We wanted people to feel comfortable exploring wines from small producers without any intimidation or pretense.”
RAISE THE BAR
Cocktail lounges, wine spots and neighborhood hangouts
Stepping into Delafia can feel a bit like stumbling upon someone’s private club, which makes sense once you realize this no-frills natural wine bar is the brainchild of Jesse Gerstl, the force behind the late-lamented Bar Lusconi and Carrboro’s Peccadillo. Readers named Delafia among Durham’s best bars for wine selection, and the ever-evolving list makes it easy to understand why. The wine menu rotates almost nightly, while knowledgeable bartenders guide guests through a world of both familiar and lesserknown grape varietals and styles. On any given evening, you’re likely to rub shoulders with a who’s who of the Durham restaurant and bar
industry scene; open seven days a week, Delafia serves as a sort of haven for those who work long weekend hours. A concise snack menu complements the pours, featuring olives, Saucy Beans and an incredible whipped cheese dip (the food is conceived and prepared by Amanda Orser of LRB Provisions and formerly Magnolia Grill). The bar also regularly hosts rotating popups from folks like chef Carrie Schleiffer, Dosirak Durham, The PushCart and more. – ML
Downtown favorite Bar Virgile once again earned Best of Durham honors for its burgers, fries, cocktails and late-night atmosphere – proof that owner Daniel Sartain and his team have mastered the art of keeping things approachable while never sacrificing quality.
“The double smashburger with fries is a must for any first timers,” Daniel says. “High-quality beef, melty American cheese, Russian dressing and a potato bun. In other words, simplicity.”
That philosophy carries throughout the menu. Seasonal pastas, fried oysters, steak frites or steak salad, and the restaurant’s signature risotto with slow-braised pork shoulder all showcase bold flavors without unnecessary fuss. Guests looking beyond the burger often discover hidden favorites like the “Grateful Veg” plate, which lets diners mix and match seasonal vegetable sides – popular choices include succotash with country ham, fried okra with harissa aioli, charred carrots with chimichurri, and roasted beets with walnuts and goat cheese.
BY FORREST MASON
Behind the bar, Bar Virgile’s cocktail program evolves with the seasons. Summer favorites include the St. John’s Swizzle and Wildflower Punch, though regulars often gravitate toward the Mumbai Direct – a vibrant mix of gin, housemade cardamomsaffron syrup, cucumber, serrano pepper, cilantro and fresh lime.
Daniel says thoughtful hospitality matters just as much as the food and drinks. While some latenight spots can be crowded and overstimulating, Bar Virgile has built its reputation
PHOTO
Big on the Pig
Sweet, smoky and just a little spicy, Bar Virgile’s pork chop al pastor reimagines the flavors of a traditional al pastor in an unexpectedly hearty format. A marinated, flamegrilled pork chop pairs with charred pineapple, peppery arugula and housemade adobo sauce, while creamy smashed potatoes soak up every last bit of flavor. Don’t miss this fan favorite when it returns this summer!
on creating a relaxed atmosphere where guests feel genuinely cared for.
“Our guests should feel seen and welcomed immediately,” he says. “Good food and drinks are one thing, but thoughtful service is something people tend to remember.”
That attention to detail extends from generous portions to carefully sourced ingredients, even amid rising food costs. “We shop hard for quality at a reasonable price,” Daniel says, “so that we can offer value to the guest.” – AM
urham
DBELOW At Alley Twenty Six, the food menu proves there’s truly no wrong order – every dish feels intentionally
Distillery is one of the most highly decorated craft gin producers in the nation, steadily building its reputation since the brand launched in 2013. Its spirits have earned multiple “Best in the U.S.” titles from the World Gin Awards by pairing modern distillation techniques with traditional methods. Its flagship Conniption line now includes four distinct gins, each crafted with layered botanicals and bright, balanced flavors that showcase the distillery’s technical precision.
The portfolio stretches far beyond gin, though; Durham Distillery also produces Damn Fine Liqueurs infused with coffee, chocolate and mocha, along with cold-distilled cucumber vodka and Krupnikas Spiced Honey
Liqueur in addition to a lineup of ready-todrink canned cocktails – a fact that consistently places it among Durham’s best craft alcoholic beverages. Its long-held spirit of experimentation extends into its hospitality spaces like the moody Conniption Bar & Lounge, where guests can sip martinis and inventive mixed drinks built around the distillery’s house spirits in the low lights of the plush basement bar, or alfresco on its intimate patio. The company expanded again last fall with the debut of Conniption Cocktails & Cuisine inside Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, bringing a taste of Durham distilled spirits and expertly crafted cocktails to travelers passing through the Triangle.
Conniption Bar & Lounge remains rooted in curiosity – the team shows a willingness to push beyond traditional expectations while maintaining quality and consistency. “When we launched our martini menu in 2020, we were the only cocktail bar in the Triangle featuring subzero martinis,” says Melissa Katrincic, who founded Durham Distillery with her husband, Lee Katrincic. “For us, the martini is where precision, temperature, texture and spirit quality all come together.” The bar’s menu shifts seasonally – keep an eye out for a fresh lineup of imaginative cocktails honoring World Gin Month starting in June. – RA
Alley Twenty Six remains one of downtown’s defining dining spots, the kind of place that helped shape the city’s modern food and cocktail scene. Readers recognized it across multiple Best of Durham categories, naming it among the best spots for burgers, fries, late-night dining, cocktails and mocktails, while also celebrating its house-made syrups among the city’s top artisan food products.
The bar-turned-restaurant reflects owner Shannon Healy’s deep hospitality roots and his belief that exceptional drinks and exceptional food belong side by side. A James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Bar Program, Alley Twenty Six pairs standout cocktails like the Mexican Herbalist – reposado tequila, jalapeño, hibiscus, lime, ginger and honey – and the Alley Cocktail – Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, dry vermouth, Cynar, maraschino and celery bitters –with a bar food menu that is equal parts comfort and class. The Alley Burger has achieved nearicon status in the Bull City, while the caviar and tots strike the perfect balance as a high-low treat on a Saturday night. The rest of the late-night menu keeps the energy going with gussied-up hot dogs, steak frites, burgers and more. And for diners skipping alcohol, the thoughtfully crafted zero-proof cocktail list receives the same level of creativity and precision as every shaken or stirred classic behind the bar. – ML
PHOTO COURTESY DURHAM DISTILLERY
ABOVE The Gin Basil Smash is one of several gin-forward cocktails featured this June on Conniption Bar & Lounge’s World Gin Month menu, celebrating the spirit in fresh, seasonal style.
crafted to pair with the bar’s standout drink program.
PHOTO BY NATALIA WEEDY
The Wine Feed has become a destination for both seasoned wine lovers and curious newcomers alike, whether guests stop in for a pre-show glass before heading to DPAC or linger over pasta and rosé on the patio.
This year, the downtown spot earned Best of Durham honors for both wine shop and wine selection in a dining setting –recognition General Manager Erin Emmerling says reflects the trust guests place in the team.
“[We endeavor] to have a place where people feel comfortable and excited to explore new things,” Erin says.
That spirit of discovery shapes everything from the rotating by-the-glass list to the restaurant’s wine dinners and guided tastings. Every four to five weeks, Erin refreshes the menu with wines chosen around seasonal ingredients, food pairings and opportunities to introduce guests to lesser-known varietals. “I think it’s great when people come in for a glass and say, ‘I’ve never heard of any of these grapes! I normally like to drink ______; what should I have?’” Erin says.
Right now, she’s particularly excited about wines from Croatia and Slovenia, regions she explored while leading a wine tour abroad a couple years ago. She’s also enamored with a rare Cabernet Pfeffer currently featured by the glass – a bright, peppery California red made from a grape with only about 12.5 acres planted worldwide.
Still, accessibility and hospitality remains central to The Wine Feed’s identity. Erin and her team strive to provide a high level of professionalism and care in every interaction, and she and chef Taylor Halley collaborate closely on pairings designed to feel elevated without intimidation.
“We drink it all year, but we always look forward to peak rosé season and how well that style pairs with our vegetarian pasta offerings and flatbreads,” Erin says.
The hybrid concept – part retail shop, part wine bar, part restaurant – encourages guests to move seamlessly between experiences. “Our by-the-glass wines do not become available for retail purchase until the end of the menu cycle, so when someone really falls in love with something, it’s a great opportunity to push them toward something adjacent,” Erin says, adding that diners often discover a favorite wine over dinner, then return weeks later searching the shelves for a bottle to take home.
“I think what makes us unique is that we are a team of people who care deeply about guest experience,” Erin says, “education that feels approachable and hospitality on every level of the business.” – AM
Drink
About It
Favorite pour on a hot summer day? A glass of ice-cold, high-acid white wine. Currently that would be the Jacquere we have on the by-the-glass menu.
Go-to wine for a novice? Depends on the novice – I always try to stay on the lighter side for red; pinot noir is a great go-to. Fruit-forward dry whites, like chenin blanc, are a great place to start for white drinkers.
Best bottle under $25? Too many to choose from – we keep such a good selection at that price point.
TRIED & TRUES
Longtime faves prove great hospitality never goes out of style
In a region overflowing with barbecue options, The Original Q Shack continues to stand out for one reason owner Dan Ferguson repeats often: consistency.
“It’s always been the most important value of our restaurant,” Dan says. “You should expect the same great food every time you come in.”
That steady approach has earned the Q Shack Best of Durham honors once again for both barbecue and restaurant catering – a recognition Dan says feels especially meaningful as new barbecue concepts continue popping up across the Triangle.
“We have loyal customers who have been with us throughout our 23-year story,” he says. “[They’re] the reason we work hard to give them the best quality food at the most reasonable prices.”
Inside the longtime Durham staple, many familiar faces remain. Prentice Clayton has led the management team since 2008, while several employees have been with the restaurant since opening day, like Salvador Solis. Even the next generation has joined in, with Salvador’s son, Mauricio, now serving as one of the managers.
The menu balances classics with crowdpleasing specials. Beef ribs – typically offered on Saturdays – regularly sell out, while items like the made-from-scratch ground brisket sloppy joe sandwich layered with pepper jack cheese delivers “the best bang for your buck,” Dan says.
Meanwhile, Q Shack’s catering business continues to grow under director of catering Anna Ferguson, whose personality and social media savvy have helped boost both new and repeat business. Weddings, corporate events, Duke Athletics and UNC Athletics functions now make up much of the restaurant’s catering work. “Anna has a natural way to connect with customers with her bright personality,” Dan says of his daughter.
Even as the restaurant expands its line of retail rubs – “we are in the process of
Perfect night at The Wine Feed in three words? Bottle. Pasta. Patio.
PHOTO BY FORREST MASON
getting our ‘Pork Butt Rub’ in retail packaging soon” – and prepares for a summer refresh – “our 23-yearold restaurant … she deserves some extra love” – Dan says guests can still expect the same thing they’ve loved for decades.
“She will still be original,” he says.
Gocciolina opened in 2014 in an unassuming strip mall off Guess Road. Since then, it has quietly delivered some of Durham’s most thoughtful Italian cooking, placing it among the upper echelons of Italian restaurants in our annual Best of Durham poll nearly each and every year.
The intimate dining room carries all the familiar makings of a neighborhood Italian spot – a menu of antipasti, pasta, meats and sides, handwritten specials
CATERING MADE SIMPLE & AFFORDABLE
and a few black-and-white photos dotting the walls. But chef Aaron Benjamin elevates the experience through meticulous attention to seasonal ingredients and understated technique.
Daily specials are scribbled out on a chalkboard, spotlighting the best produce arriving from local producers, allowing ingredients to drive the dishes rather than overpowering them with heavy preparations – a straightforward approach that mirrors traditional Italian cooking, where simplicity lets freshness take center stage. Handmade pastas prepared fresh daily anchor the menu. Classics like spaghetti amatriciana and carbonara arrive with a distinctly North Carolina twist thanks to locally raised country bacon.
moment you step inside. Between the bustling dining rooms, intimate bistro-style bar and charming walled patio, the entire experience is a Francophile’s dream. Don’t expect frilly, overly modern interpretations of French cuisine here; the menu leans into timeless classics with confidence. Think piping-hot French onion soup, perfectly executed hanger steak frites, towering fruits de mer seafood platters and scrumptious crème brûlée crowned with a satisfyingly crisp layer of caramelized sugar. There’s a prix-fixe menu for that true European dining experience, while an extensive French wine list and lineup of classic cocktails elevate the experience even further. They say Carrboro is the Paris of the Piedmont, but Vin Rouge is the true pièce de résistance of the Triangle’s French food scene. – ML
Even after more than a decade in business, Gocciolina still feels like a hidden gem – the kind of restaurant guests discover once, then spend years recommending to friends. – RA
It’s hard to top a classic Parisian bistro, but if you’re craving those vibes without the hassle of crossing the Atlantic, Vin Rouge delivers. Readers named it among Durham’s very best restaurants, not to mention as a top destination for steak, a standout for its wine selection and one of the area’s favorite choices for date night – praise that feels well earned from the
BY
Pizzeria Toro remains one of downtown Durham’s defining restaurants, the kind of place that helped spark the city’s culinary renaissance and continues to set the standard more than a decade later. It was voted among Durham’s best spots for pizza and Italian cuisine; visit any day of the week, and it’s easy to see why it continues to earn such lasting acclaim. Inside, the dining room vibrates with that signature Toro energy: warm lighting, communal tables and the steady glow of the wood-fired oven anchoring it all. The bar buzzes with activity as servers weave through the room balancing craft cocktails and Italian wines. The pizzas are the
Rachel Lyu and Peter Lyu settle in at the bar at Pizzeria Toro, a longtime favorite for wood-fired pies, an extensive selection of Italian wines and standout cocktails — Rachel’s sipping an Aperol margarita and Peter’s enjoying an antiquato.
PHOTO
BRIANA BROUGH
stars – chewy, blistered and topped with seasonal combinations that showcase chef Gray Brooks’ playful, ingredient-driven style. Try the spicy lamb meatball pizza, or opt for a fresh spin on tradition with the “New School” pepperoni, a white pie with Sun Gold tomatoes, chilies and crescenza cheese. The Tuscan kale salad has become something of a Durham rite of passage, while the crispy pig ears have earned near-legendary local status. – ML
Weekend mornings at Elmo’s Diner hum with the kind of easygoing energy that feels increasingly rare. Silverware clinks on heavy dishes, syrup perfumes the air and families squeeze into booths while regulars settle onto counter stools like they’ve done a hundred times before.
For nearly 30 years, Durham diners have packed the beloved Ninth Street institution for classic breakfast fare served without fuss, helping earn Elmo’s Best of Durham recognition as a favorite breakfast and kid-friendly destination. Step inside, and the retro Formica tables, simple stools and steady rhythm of the open dining room instantly transport guests to a simpler era of neighborhood diners and bottomless coffee.
The menu leans heavily into comfort. Fluffy pancakes arrive stacked with toppings like pecans, blueberries, bananas or chocolate chips, while hearty egg plates and customizable omelets fuel busy mornings. Generous portions and attentive service keep longtime fans returning, whether they crave a no-frills bacon-and-eggs breakfast; a simple, classic milkshake; or a towering plate of pancakes on a slow Saturday morning. And while the nostalgic staples anchor the offerings, the weekly specials board always rewards regulars with something unexpected.
At Elmo’s, breakfast feels less like a meal and more like a ritual –one built on familiarity, consistency and feel-good eats. – MCW
An Instant Classic
Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery has quickly become one of Durham’s most indemand lunch spots –the daily line stretching down Angier Avenue and around the corner makes that clear. Ian Bracken and Paul Chirico opened the sandwich shop just five years ago, and the popularity of their Northeastern-style deli sandwiches only continues to grow.
At Ideal’s, a sandwich isn’t just about flavor – it’s about “eatability.”
That’s the word Ian and Paul agree is what has turned their compact sandwich shop into one of Durham’s most devoted lunchtime destinations.
“Just being able to properly eat the sandwich, without everything coming out,” Ian says. “The amount of stuff in there, how hard the bread is – all of it,” Paul adds. “You don’t want to eat a sandwich where the bread tears up the roof of your mouth.” Ian ensures that’s never the case, baking hundreds of loaves a day while meticulously dialing in the bread’s shape, crust, flavor and chew.
That obsessive attention to balance has helped Ideal’s earn a Best of Durham win for sandwiches. The duo estimates the shop now turns out roughly 300 sandwiches a day, with favorites like Uncle Primo’s chicken cutlet and the Harlem chopped cheese leading the charge among regulars.
Still, Paul says one of the menu’s most underrated stars might be the roast turkey sandwich layered with mayo, provolone, roasted red peppers, arugula and pepperoncini.
“You just think you’re having a turkey sandwich,” Ian says, “and then you bite into it and you’re like, ‘Wow, this is really good.’”
“It’s the mayo,” Paul says. “The bacon Calabrian chile mayo, that really holds everything together. [The sandwich] is fresh and spicy and meaty and cheesy. All the right notes.”
Much of the menu pulls inspiration from the kinds of sandwiches the owners grew up eating in the Northeast – the sort they struggled to find after moving south. Weekly specials, meanwhile, often come from pure cravings, whether that means meatballs during a lingering cold snap or a gravy-smothered French fry po’boy.
The team is now putting the finishing touches on a nearby 2,512-square-foot bakery operation – a space nearly three times the size of Ideal’s current footprint. The expansion will increase catering production and eventually allow the shop to extend its hours in phases.
“We’re gonna do noon to 5 p.m. at first,” Paul says, “and then we want to go into turning on online ordering, and then possibly do breakfast, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then from there, add an hour on both ends, so maybe, like an 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. situation. But there are a lot of other things that have to happen first before we can start thinking about that.”
That includes equipment replacement at Ideal’s, securing final approvals from the health department for the bakery and hiring additional staff. The rapid success and growth still surprises Paul.
“We just thought it would be Ian and me, slicing meat till we’re old men, you know?” he says. Instead, Ideal’s has developed into something far larger than either of them imagined. “Which is cool,” Ian says. “One can only hope that it lasts a lifetime.”
Amid the extra work and effort, the goal remains unchanged: Make every sandwich worth the wait.
“If somebody waits 45 minutes and still thinks it was a really good sandwich, that it was worth standing in line for,” Paul says, “that makes me happiest.” – AM
AROUND THE WORLD
Global influences provide a passport to diverse dining experiences
Apillar of Durham’s culinary scene for nearly three decades, Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant remains woven into the rhythm of casual mornings, filling brunches and lingering coffee dates. The longtime favorite continues to earn Best of Durham recognition for breakfast, brunch, desserts and coffee by blending German and Austrian traditions with an evolving, globally influenced menu. Executive chef Dave Alworth, who has led the kitchen for 16 years, travels to Europe twice a year to gather inspiration directly from cafes, bakeries and restaurants throughout the region. That influence appears across the menu, though Guglhupf doesn’t confine itself strictly to Old World fare. Current offerings, like the avocado Benedict (served on buttery brioche toast with smoked paprika hollandaise), and the pork schnitzel draw on foundations
An evening on the patio at Guglhupf Bakery & Restaurant pairs crisp glasses of wine with classic brotzeit, capturing the easygoing charm of a summer night shared over good food and conversation.
of European cooking while melding with modern culinary trends and flavors.
Seasonality naturally comes into play – “We try to stay in rhythm with what the earth is actually doing,” says owner Sean Scott. “I push for organic, local and sustainable products [to be used] whenever possible.”
As Guglhupf approaches its 30th anniversary, Sean says the beloved cafe and bakery is stepping confidently into its next chapter. The team recently refreshed the Durham location’s lush, sprawling patio just in time for summer’s alfresco dining season, and there are plans in motion to further expand Guglhupf’s reach while continuing the traditions that have made it a celebrated Durham mainstay. Stay tuned! – RA
“Look for the cow” is the advice many locals give when directing newcomers to one of Durham’s most beloved taco stands. More than a landmark, Taqueria La Vaquita has fed the Bull City for decades with food that’s honest, deeply flavorful and rooted in Mexican tradition – a beloved institution that readers named among the city’s best destinations for Mexican food. The menu stays refreshingly straightforward: tacos, tortas, tamales and generously portioned plates loaded with tender meats and bright salsas. What keeps people coming back is the consistency – juicy al pastor, rich barbacoa and some of the best lengua in town, all served with warm tortillas and no pretense. Looking to branch out beyond tacos? Order the huarache, a homemade sandal-shaped tortilla that’s a little thicker than the standard version, then piled high with your choice of meat, plus lettuce, crema and salsa. Think of it as the taco’s even more satisfying older sibling. – ML
AWhen it comes to pastas, the squid ink tonarelli practically has its own fan club. Anchoring the kitchen is a wood-fired grill, a glowing hearth that infuses vegetables, seafood and meats with rich, smoky character. For the full experience, order the bistecca alla Fiorentina, and settle in for a meal that captures the warmth and soul of an Italian gathering. – ML
Tradition and precision go hand in hand at Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar
Named among the best dining options for Indian fare, the restaurant has built a loyal following through its focus on North Indian and Punjabi cuisine, earning praise for dishes that balance comforting familiarity with careful technique. From slow-simmered curries to smoky tandoor specialties, every plate reflects what the culinary team describes as a commitment to “respect tradition, but refine it with precision and consistency for today’s guest.”
That philosophy shines brightest in signature dishes like the chicken tikka masala, dal makhni and tandoori chicken tikka. The tikka masala delivers comforting warmth and layered spice, while the dal makhni simmers overnight to develop its signature depth and velvety texture – “it’s less about a fixed recipe and more about a disciplined process.”
t Mothers & Sons Trattoria, chef Josh DeCarolis channels Italian tradition and his Northeastern upbringing through a distinctly North Carolina lens. Readers named the downtown favorite among Durham’s best destinations for Italian cuisine, thanks in large part to its commitment to regional trattoria cooking and an approach that finds beauty in simplicity. That philosophy shines brightest in the handmade pastas, rolled and shaped daily with a reverence that borders on ritual. The dishes balance rustic comfort with chef-driven finesse, turning out silky tagliatelle and hearty ragùs that feel both familiar and new. The fritto misto – loaded with surf clams, squid, smelts, shrimp, lemon and zucchini – is a great start to the meal.
Regulars often branch deeper into the menu with dishes like bhindi masala and goat curry, both showcasing the kitchen’s intricate spice work and slow-building flavors. Much of that complexity begins long before service starts, thanks to whole spices like cumin, coriander and garam masala ground in-house. Paired with fresh, staple ingredients like ginger, garlic, tomatoes and onions, those carefully curated flavors create the rich depth that define Urban Turban’s cooking. Consistency is also a major focus behind the scenes, particularly when it comes to marination and sauce finishing. Even small variations in timing or temperature can impact the final dish.
The restaurant
recently expanded its footprint by 1,800 square feet, adding a large bar and a private dining room designed for intimate gatherings and celebrations. The extra space gives Urban Turban even more room to extend the gracious hospitality that first built its loyal following. The team hopes every guest leaves feeling “comfortable, satisfied and looking forward to coming back.” – AM
PHOTO COURTESY OF URBAN TURBAN
PHOTO BY MORGAN CARTIER WESTON
At La Vaquita, pollo, pastor and asada tacos arrive with radishes, lime, rice and refried beans.
Tagliatelle al ragu highlights rustic Italian comfort at Mothers & Sons.
At Urban Turban, the bar sets an elegant scene, inviting guests to linger over a cocktail.
Wally Cardona & Molly Lieber
Co-presented with Carolina Performing Arts
May 27–29 at 7 pm & May 30 at 2 pm & 7 pm
ADF’s Scripps Studios • $30
Jesse Factor
June 17 at 7:30 pm
Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$45
for more details & to purchase tickets, visit
Footprints
june
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company
June 18 & 19 at 7:30 pm
Page Auditorium • $40–$70
Camille A. Brown & Dancers
Co-presented with Hayti Heritage Center
June 20 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$60
Made in NC
Tracey Durbin, Jabu Graybeal, Courtney Liu, & Amanda K. Miller
Co-presented with Cary, NC
June 22 at 7:30 pm
Page Auditorium • $30
ADF-Commissioned World Premieres
Encore performance at Downtown Cary Park on September 26 at 7:30 pm
July 1 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm von der Heyden Studio Theater • $30 ADF Commission
Ephrat Asherie, Vincent E. Thomas, & Keith A. Thompson
July 11 at 7:30 pm & July 12 at 3 pm
Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$45
ADF-Commissioned World Premieres
Stephan Koplowitz
July 11 at 1 pm & 3 pm
July 12 at 11 am & 1 pm
A FREE site-specific work at Mutual Tower
ADF-Commissioned World Premiere, Presented in collaboration with Turnbridge Equities
Paul Taylor Dance Company
July 15 & 16 at 7:30 pm
Page Auditorium • $40–$70
ADF-Commissioned World Premiere
Shen Wei Dance Arts & Guangdong Modern Dance Company
Mark Morris Dance Group
July 2 & 3 at 7:30 pm
July 4 at 5 pm
Li Chiao-Ping Dance july
Reynolds Industries Theater • $40–$70
Monica Bill Barnes & Company
July 7–10 at 7:30 pm von der Heyden Studio Theater • $30
SPECIAL EVENTS OFF STAGE
June 17: Opening Dance Party • $25
July 17: Closing Dance Party • $50
Film Screenings to celebrate 30 years of ADF’s Screendance Festival. For more details, visit our website.
July 17 at 7:30 pm & July 18 at 5 pm
Reynolds Industries Theater • $30–$60
ADF Co-commission
July 22 at 7:30 pm
Reynolds Industries Theater • $30
Pilobolus
July 24 at 7:30 pm & July 25 at 5 pm
Page Auditorium • $40–$70
CHILDREN’S MATINEES
Saturdays at 12 pm • $18 followed by a free Kids Party
July 4: Mark Morris Dance Group
July 25: Pilobolus PACKAGE DEAL $30 for both!
Tere O’Connor
•
Photo by Maria Baranova
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company
Photo by Olivia Moon Mark Morris Dance Group
Photo by Danica Paulos Camille A. Brown & Dancers
Photo by Christopher Duggan
Andia’s Rotating Scoop Shop – which opened April 2 inside downtown’s Nanny Goat Market – cycles through 11 seasonal and signature ice cream flavors each month. Ube, double dark chocolate and rose pistachio options are often on hand; the latter remains a favorite of co-founder and CEO Andia Xouris, who drew inspiration from the rose ice cream she savored during childhood summers in Cyprus. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was 6, but returned to the island each year to visit.
Beyond its housemade waffle cones, Andia’s Rotating Scoop Shop serves ice-cream creme brulees, cookie sandwiches, pup cups and pints to-go.
”A sweet summer starts at four reader-favorite spots serving decadent, must-try treats
BY RENEE AMBROSO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Dulce Cafe
tempting treats that look almost too good to eat – key word being almost Fruit resembles a polished apple and layers cinnamon cake, apple mousse and apple compote beneath a glossy white chocolate glaze.
The shop recently went viral for its fruit- and food-shaped confections, garnering hundreds of thousands of views on social media and building quite the following. Our readers clearly agree, naming Dulce’s desserts among the best in Durham.
UBE IS A VEGAN FLAVOR THAT IS CREAMY AND REFRESHING FOR SUMMERTIME, PLUS IT OFFERS A GREAT POP OF COLOR. AND DOUBLE DARK CHOCOLATE IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.
– Alyssa Goff, director,marketingAndia’s
Nantucket Grill at Sutton Station offers traditional New Englandstyle cuisine, and its adjacent bakery whips up delicious specialty cakes that are served by the slice at the restaurant and available by the quarter, half or whole for pickup. The bestselling strawberry shortcake layers fluffy vanilla cake with sliced strawberries and freshly whipped cream. Visit on Saturdays to enjoy a slice for half price.
[THE SHORTCAKE] IS SWEET, BUT NOT TOO SWEET. YOU CAN ENJOY IT REFRIGERATED OR AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. THE STRAWBERRIES ARE FRESHLY CHOPPED EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THE WHIPPED CREAM IS MADE FRESH FOR EACH CAKE.
– TOSHA MARIE JACOBS, BAKERY GENERAL MANAGER, NANTUCKET GRILL
”Summer Bicknell opened LocoPops in 2005 after learning to make paletas in Tlazazalca, Mexico. Since then, the shop has introduced more than 250 seasonal flavors, while staples like Mexican Chocolate and Horchata continue to anchor the menu.
Mark Your Calendar
ON A HOT DAY, MOJITO IS THE BEST. [AND] STRAWBERRY LEMONADE IS A YEAR-ROUND FAVORITE MADE OF THE BEST BITS OF SUMMERTIME – SWEET, TART AND FRUITY! … EVERY AUGUST, WE [ALSO] FEATURE CUCUMBER CHILE, WHICH IS THE FIRST PALETA I EVER HAD AND IS STILL MY PERSONAL FAVORITE.
– Summer Bicknell
“I feel it’s important to always have some flavors that pay homage to my teacher and her culture,” Summer says. “This year, we’ve reserved one dairy and nondairy spot on the menu for Latin sabores.”
In addition to its classic popsicles and miniature “baby pops,” LocoShop offers scratchmade ice cream, pies, soups and ready-to-bake meals.
Andia’s annual Kitchen with a Cause fundraiser returns this July to support Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center. This year, the creamery will donate proceeds from ticket sales for an ice-creammaking class led by Andia, along with a portion of monthly sales from its four Triangle locations, the latter of which will benefit the hospital’s Child and Adolescent Life department, specifically. Plus, visit on National Ice Cream Day, July 19, to enjoy a free waffle cone with the purchase of a scoop!
LocoShop hosts its second annual Summer Kickoff June 10. Stop by from 2-5 p.m. for crafts, giveaways and family-friendly fun to celebrate the end of the school year. The shop will also mark National Ice Cream Day on July 19 with an ice-cream flavor contest, raffle and more.
Step inside four of Durham’s best recently opened businesses and meet a mix of dedicated entrepreneurs reshaping hospitality, retail and personal care in the Bull City
BY KATRINA M C LEAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
A Cut Above
Husband-and-wife team Leu Freycinet and Lex Freycinet brought a long-held vision to life when they opened Steelo Salon in April 2025 after relocating from California to Raleigh a few years ago. “I always wanted to open my own salon,” Lex says, while Leu adds that the timing finally allowed them to follow their dreams. The GeerHouse location immediately resonated with the pair. “It felt like who we are at our core,” Lex says.
Launching the business came with a few obstacles, such as unexpected construction expenses that included the addition of a mezzanine to fit more service stations. Lex recalls the learning curve of figuring out “all the things we would actually need to be functional.”
But once doors did open, Steelo built a loyal following by centering its brand on community, wellness, empowerment and integrity. “Staying consistent with those has really helped us reach the clientele we want,” says Marketing Manager Aleecyana Mills
Popular services range from curl treatments and short cuts to lived-in color and extensions, with added emphasis on long-term hair and scalp health. Beyond aesthetics, Steelo prioritizes inclusivity and comfort. Clients experiencing hair loss can access more private spaces, and the salon welcomes families, including young children, without hesitation. “We want everybody to feel good in our space,” Leu says.
Leu adds that Steelo’s current focus is on education and mentoring younger stylists, reinforcing its commitment to internal growth and professional development. Lex views balance as the ultimate goal – “work to live instead of live to work” – but also finds success rooted in the everyday moments at the salon. Hospitality shapes the experience at Steelo, Leu says – “It’s about the way you make people feel,” he shares – an energy that clients recognize the moment they walk through the door.
Herd Around Town
Mother-daughter duo Preeti Waas and Amy Waas joined forces once again to launch Nanny Goat Market last year, opening the locally driven retail concept in August 2025 at Horseshoe at Hub RTP in Research Triangle Park before expanding with a second location downtown just a few months later.
Amy describes the business as “that neighborhood feel of a market,” shaped by the people it serves. “We really love Durham [and feel] connected with the community here,” she says, noting that relationships formed through their restaurant, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, helped lay the groundwork for branching into the market space.
Each shop functions as both a marketplace and a platform for local artisans, bakers and makers, featuring small-batch goods, household supplies, handcrafted items and North Carolina-based food products such as locally roasted beans from Little Waves Coffee Roasters and Devil’s Foot Beverage Company’s craft sodas. Downtown’s warm-toned interior and dedicated kids corner invites guests to linger, while the RTP location offers a more curated convenience-meets-boutique experience. “It all comes together in a way that feels very personable,” Amy says.
Building the business hasn’t been without challenges, particularly around visibility and access to funding, especially as women business owners. Still, collaboration remains central to the market’s identity.
Steelo Salon team members Sasha Stefan, Lex Freycinet, Aleecyana Mills, Kylah Gutierrez, Amani Priestley, Leu Freycinet and Liliana Rodriguez. “We hope our space is the cornerstone for luxury hair care and human connection,“ Leu says.
Rotating residencies – including with fellow Best of Durham winner Andia’s Ice Cream, served at the downtown location through the summer –and partnerships with other small businesses offer “little bursts” of exposure while helping the business remain responsive to public interests.
Named after the nurturing nanny goat that watches over the herd, the market reflects Preeti’s focus on creating opportunities for minority groups and microenterprises that “otherwise have challenges getting their products into stores.” Preeti says one of her proudest accomplishments has been building these businesses alongside her daughter: “Amy is really good at uplifting people and giving them the space to do their jobs well,” Preeti says.
For Amy and Preeti, fulfillment extends far beyond adding new ventures to their beloved brand. They measure it through sustainability, balance and meaningful community connection. “If there’s something [Durham] would like to see, we’d love to hear it,” Amy says.
Shake It Up
Primrose Bar & Lounge has quickly established itself as more than just a cocktail bar – it’s a gathering place that reflects Durham’s inclusive culture. Opened in April 2025, coowners Darryl Coleman and Mike Douglass developed the concept after years of entertaining others, whether it was at themed parties or daiquiri tastings inspired by family recipes. What began as casual hosting eventually evolved into a long-planned business that
PHOTOGRAPHY
THE PLAID PENGUIN
“I'd like for it to feel kind of like if a farmers market had a physical store,“ Amy Waas says of Nanny Goat.
“It felt like, even before we opened, the city was in full support of helping us out,” Primrose's Mike Douglass says. “You're creating experiences and a place where people can come and leave feeling better,“ co-owner Darryl Coleman adds. “That was something that was really important to us.”
found a home in a prime downtown location on West Main Street
The road to opening wasn’t without setbacks. Construction delays, unexpected electrical work and supply chain disruptions pushed the launch.
Mike and Darryl credit Durham’s business collective and organizations like Downtown Durham Inc. with helping them navigate those hurdles. “This city really wants to see you succeed,” Mike says.
Connection and creativity define nearly every aspect of the lounge, from its eclectic, art-filled interior to collaborative cocktail development. The name Primrose references the flowering plant known for its natural healing properties, reinforcing the owners’ vision for the space as somewhere guests can unwind and recharge. Signature drinks like “Violets for Aunt Flossie” pay tribute to Mike’s aunt and her drink recipes, which inspired the bar’s creation, while a rotating lineup of themed events keep customers returning for new experiences.
The bar has also teamed up with neighboring Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas – a Best of Durham winner for its Latin American fare –to provide convenient food service for guests. Darryl says plans for an expanded outdoor patio and more community-focused events are already in motion. “We’re collaborating with a lot of businesses in the area,” he says, nodding to upcoming partnerships with nearby locales like The Pinhook – named one of the best venues for live music – just a few doors down. Together, the businesses hope to draw more foot traffic to this stretch of downtown by activating the shared back patio and walkway as an outdoor gathering space, complete with games. Primrose also plans to debut mimosa drink towers, available exclusively on Sundays.
The co-owners quantify their work by longevity and impact rather than profit margins. Their goal is simple: to create a lasting institution where guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.
Vital Signs
Gameday Men’s Health opened in September 2025 with a mission to address men’s health concerns through personalized, medically guided care. Managing partner Will Knecht says his own experience with symptoms such as low energy and brain fog help him relate to many of the men the clinic serves. “We’re about helping guys optimize and extend their quality of life,” he says.
The clinic offers services ranging from peptide treatments and weight management to hair-loss solutions and testosterone replacement therapy, all aimed at improving physical and mental well-being. Speed and accessibility drive the clinic’s approach – lowering barriers to care by streamlining what can often become a lengthy process into a single visit and removing many upfront costs. “A guy will come in, they’ll have their blood drawn and tested in our in-clinic lab and [then] spend 30 to 40 minutes with our provider,” Will explains. “In one hour, they’ll know how they’re doing, and that consultation is complimentary.”
Will adds that the most rewarding part of the business comes from hearing how treatment has improved patients’ lives. “When you’re able to do really good for people and families, it’s so rewarding.” That impact also includes challenging stigma around seeking care for health issues that are often difficult for men to discuss. He emphasizes the importance of confidential, judgment-free support that allows clients to be open about what they’re experiencing.
Will encourages aspiring business owners in Durham to build connections early and points to organizations like the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce as valuable resources for networking and civic engagement. Looking ahead, the clinic plans to expand its hours from operating two days a week to four while continuing to strengthen local partnerships. He says the Southcourt building’s visibility and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community ultimately made the Bull City an easy choice for expanding the brand. “We just want to continue to help more guys in Durham,” he says.
Gameday Men's Health Clinical Director Victoria Tsyhykalo, Lead Medical Assistant Hosanna Kimenez and Managing Partner Will Knecht. ˮMen's proactive wellness and health is absolutely underdiscussed and underdelivered,” Will says, and we're looking to change that.
Favorite nap spot Curled up in his favorite pink chair
Most on-brand habit
Sitting underneath the retail table in “troll mode”
PET SHOP
Get to know the furry ‘empawlees’ bringing charm, comfort and plenty of personality to some of Durham’s best businesses
BY SHARON KINSELLA
5-year-old Cavalier
King Charles spaniel
Lovable, friendly, mellow
Owner Emma Macadam adopted Odie just two months after launching Redhead Hemp; he quickly became her trusty copilot, joining her on car rides during wholesale deliveries to shops across the Triangle and later tagging along at local markets as an adorable crowd magnet before settling into his natural role as ultimate shop dog when the business opened its first brick-and-mortar in Raleigh in 2022. Today, Odie is a full-fledged fixture at the downtown Durham shop, where customers often call ahead to check on his whereabouts or swing by just to say hello. “When creating the shop, I wanted it to feel like a cool studio apartment – cozy furniture, a big island bar – and Odie is a big part of that feel!” Emma says.
Indy
8-year-old border collie mix
Sweet, cuddly, magical
Indy has been part of Casa Bella Market since day one, joining owner Sara Mannone at the store right after it opened in 2023. The moment her bandana goes on, the deaf pup knows it’s time for “work.” Now she spends her days happily greeting customers, soaking up attention and tailing her favorite shoppers through the store. Some visitors even stop in specifically to see her. “[Having Indy] allows our shoppers to feel comfortable in a laid-back atmosphere,” Sara says. “We want everyone to feel welcome – four-legged friends included!”
”[ODIE GOES TO] WILLOW OAK VETERINARY HOSPITAL ON BROAD STREET. IT’S WALKING DISTANCE FROM OUR HOUSE, AND HE LOVES ALL THE VETS THERE!
– Emma Macadam
Favorite treat
Peanut butter on a spoon
Favorite nap spot
The rug by the front door when the afternoon sun shines in Most on-brand habit Welcoming everyone who walks in the door with a “smile”
”[I TAKE INDY TO] PARK VETERINARY HOSPITAL & URGENT CARE, [NAMED ONE OF THE BEST VETS AND BOARDERS IN DURHAM]. THEY ARE SO FRIENDLY AND CARING, AND WE KNOW OUR PETS ARE IN GREAT HANDS!
– Sara Mannone
Redhead Hemp
Hemp/ Cannabis Store
Casa Bella Market
Keep an eye out for
Casa Bella’s Paint Your Pet portrait events with local artist Heather Eck!
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Apollo Creed Sause
Mayonnaise
3-year-old tabby
Playful, sassy, extroverted
Fuss & Bother
2025 Best Hair Salon
Favorite treat
Churus, but she’s also happy to try to steal anything you might be eating
Favorite nap spot Her perch by the window behind the front desk
Most on-brand habit
Hopping up in a client’s lap, possibly when they least expect it
Mayo’s path to Fuss & Bother began just across the street, where a stray cat gave birth to a litter of kittens on a neighbor’s porch. Owner Christina Pelech brought the whole feline family into the salon basement while the kittens grew. All were eventually adopted – but Mayo stayed put. She follows in the paw prints of Henry, the salon’s longtime former feline fixture, who has since retired to Christina’s home after years as a beloved part of the business (and even inspiring tote bags with his likeness). Mayo now lives at the salon, keeping things lively with her playful antics, from darting through tunnels and chasing feather toys to mysteriously hauling towels downstairs overnight for reasons known only to her. Equal parts entertainer and comfort companion, Mayo brings both “main character energy” and cozy charm to the salon – especially for clients lucky enough to have her curl up in their lap during an appointment.
”[I TAKE MAYO TO] DR. HERMAN JEFFER AT CORNWALLIS ROAD ANIMAL HOSPITAL, [ANOTHER BEST VETERINARIAN IN DURHAM WINNER]. HE’S A GREAT VET AND RUNS A WONDERFUL PRACTICE. I TRUST HIM AND APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION HE GIVES AT EVERY APPOINTMENT.
– Christina Pelech
15-month-old golden retriever and Australian shepherd mix
Crazy, cute, funny
Favorite treat
Blue Buffalo biscuits, peanut butter or cheese
Favorite nap spot At the end of the couch or anywhere near his favorite humans
Most on-brand habit
He absolutely loves water; whether it’s playing in his pool at home or playing with the hose at work, he can never get enough
”Apollo has become one of the most recognizable faces at Camp Bow Wow. Apollo’s owner and Camp Bow Wow team counselor
Brian Sause first brought him in as a puppy to help build his confidence, and the pup passed the same camper interview process as every other prospective guest “with flying colors.” Now, Apollo spends three to four days a week at camp greeting dogs and owners, helping shy pups feel more comfortable, posing for plenty of social media cameos and serving as a familiar face in photos around the lobby.
BowCampWow – North Durham
Best Pet Boarding
[APOLLO GOES TO BEST VETERINARIAN WINNER]
BAHAMA ROAD
VETERINARY HOSPITAL. [THEY’VE GOT A] GREAT STAFF WHO HAVE TAKEN AMAZING CARE OF OUR DOGS OVER THE YEARS.
– Brian Sause
Yappy Hours
Weekends at The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge truly go to the dogs. Well-behaved pups can join their owners for fun on the covered patio and rooftop every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Four-legged VIPs can make their grand entrance through the aptly named “Very Important Pups” door, located two storefronts down from the bar’s main Orange Street entryway. And be sure to follow @velvethippodurham on Instagram for updates on puppy adoption and socializing events with Hope Animal Rescue
The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge
Best Place for a Late Night
Best Mocktails
Best Cocktails
the first sketch to the final reveal. Thank you Durham for voting
Spiral
3-year-old dachshund
Curious, loyal, loving
Spiral has been by Oak City Hemp co-owner Ally DeJong’s side since she was a puppy and Ally was in the throes of designing and building out the Roxboro Street space; what started as tagging along on job-site visits turned into a permanent role as the shop’s resident calming presence. Spiral now fits seamlessly into the lounge’s upscale living room vibe, often snoozing quietly in her bed until a customer suddenly spots her and immediately lights up. Ally says Spiral adds to the warm energy of the space, offering a quiet source of comfort for both customers and staff – the kind of sweet presence that makes people instinctively stop for a pet, snuggle or quick mood boost. “She complements the products we sell,” Ally says. “[They’re both] relaxing and therapeutic.”
OakHempCity Lounge
Best Hemp/ Cannabis Store
treat Harvest Moon chews
Favorite nap spot
On her fluffy bed or next to wherever Ally’s working
Most on-brand habit
Taking a full five minutes to arrange the most perfect and cozy bed for herself before settling in
Grady
6-year-old American pit bull terrier
Sweet, affectionate, attention-loving
Adopt Love
Grady’s story at Growler Grlz began in 2019, when members of the shop’s run club discovered three abandoned puppies in a box along a nearby trail. Owner Karen Poulsen quickly fell for “the cutest one,” brought him home that night and has taken him with her to work ever since. Today, Grady splits his time between the Durham shop and Growler Grlz’s new Southern Village location in Chapel Hill, serving as an unofficial greeter and proudly prancing around with a toy when his favorite regulars walk through the door. Beyond the warm welcomes, Grady is a source of comfort for customers needing a little extra joy – Karen says she’s watched people experiencing difficult days visibly brighten from the affection he so freely gives. “He’s like a therapy dog,” she says. His gentle nature makes him especially popular with children, too.
Favorite treat
Peanut butter pretzels
Favorite nap spot
In the back of the shops where he can keep an eye on the entrances
Most on-brand habit
Licking up spilled beer off the ground
Fur Real Luxury
The gems aren’t the only things sparkling at these Best of Durham-winning jewelry stores – these pawfessionals bring plenty of charm of their own.
Twelve-year-old Ace (right) keeps a watchful eye over the showroom at Jewelsmith, winning over visitors with his easygoing demeanor and occasional bursts of playful energy. President and manager Kristine Wylie adopted the rescue pup in 2014, and now he’s a store staple who’s impossible to miss –especially in his custom Jewelsmith chain-style collar, complete with a laser-engraved paw tag.
At Hamilton Hill Jewelry, Ms. Malavita – aka Mimi (above) – purrfers a more elusive approach to her customer service. Associate Curator and Digital Media Manager Helena Gates adopted the 4-year-old black American shorthair from the Animal Protection Society of Durham and has brought her to the shop since 2024. The self-appointed princess – “It’s her way or the highway,” Helena
says – rarely works the showroom floor; she’s more likely to be spotted traversing the rafters than mingling with customers, but it makes her occasional appearances all the more special. “To meet a little animal in an unexpected place brings a smile to everyone’s face,” Helena says.
SHELFEXPRESSION
Decorating with Durham’s best finds – from vintage treasures to modern accents, these retail favorites prove shopping local never goes out of style
BY COURTNEY HAYES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
have a little secret: I’ll choose in-person shopping over online every single time. Luckily, Durham is one of the best places to do just that. As a lifelong thrifter and selfproclaimed maximalist, I get a thrill from wandering local shops and uncovering treasures, both old and new. I often go window shopping but, dear reader, I almost never return home empty-handed – and my house and wardrobe reflect that. Here are a few of my favorite shopping and styling philosophies.
Courtney Hayes with her pups – Boston terrier Ethel and French bulldog Daphne – in her living room. Her block-print dress is from Parker and Otis, and her shoes and necklace are from Mode Consignment.
Courtney decorated her living room with finds from Best of Durham winners Always Home, The Borough, Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary, Chet Miller, DurhamChapel Hill Habitat for Humanity
ReStore, Indio, Patina, Pennies for Change, TROSA Thrift Store and Vintage Home South.
If you truly love it, get it. You’ll always find a place for the things you adore. That’s certainly been the case for the plates hanging in my dining room. I found them at local thrifts, including Scrap Thrift and TROSA, for less than $5 apiece, and together they create a huge, colorful impact. And the lamps? I scored those at one of Pennies for Change’s “WOW” events. Fiber knots by Durham’s Katie Hatfield Art bring my gallery walls to life, adding texture and a sense of play. Buyer’s regret is much worse than buyer’s remorse.
Old and new blend beautifully together. I collect vintage porcelain dogs, so when I spotted porcelain dog vases at The Borough, I couldn’t resist. They mix perfectly with my existing collection, even though they’re new. Another example: A vintage-inspired side table from Patina offsets my modern couch.
The unexpected makes a space – or an outfit – feel special. Shops like Patina and Always Home style their stores in ways that can help you envision how to use pieces in your own home. Same goes when shopping for your closet at Tigress or Smitten Boutique
If your living room feels stale, try swapping out the throw pillows. I recently traded my yellow couch for a gray one and felt completely stumped on how to style it. Then came the light bulb moment: a trip to Vintage Home South. Their pillow selection instantly sparked ideas. Patina also carries a small-but-mighty collection, while
Chet Miller and The Borough offer playful options. Mixing pieces from all these shops gave me the layered, bespoke look I wanted.
Use things in unexpected ways. A vase doesn’t have to hold flowers. Fill it with pens, taper candles, scissors, your washi tape stash or whatever else needs a home. Add a flower frog to that thrifted bowl and use it to display blooms from Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary
Photography by Cat Nguyen l
That vintage brooch you found at Scrap Thrift? Pin it to a jean jacket instead of tucking it away in a jewelry box.
Look at everything when you shop. You might be surprised to learn that one of my favorite dresses is from Parker and Otis. Yes, they stock incredible gifts and serve amazing sandwiches (No. 29 forever!), but they also carry great self-care essentials and clothing, too. Mode Consignment is another place where I inspect every shelf and rack. Much of my jewelry and many of my shoes came from there, and it’s an ideal spot to score higher-end pieces at more approachable prices.
ABZ: Always Be Zhuzhing. Every time I wander around a local shop, I come home inspired to refresh my space or rethink my wardrobe. When I saw this piece by local artist Janice Francis at Patina, I immediately pictured it in the center of my etagere. Works by Jordan Grace Owens and Hillsborough-based artist Ellie Snow appear throughout my home, and I love rearranging them to keep everything feeling fresh.
Matching is overrated. I’d styled the same ol’ tablescape in my dining room for months, but a quick trip to my favorite local haunts changed that. I designed a playful look using East Fork Pottery plates from Indio alongside a tablecloth, napkins, handmade serving utensils and Haand ceramics (crafted nearby in Alamance County) from Chet Miller. To finish the look, I added a whimsical fish vase from The Borough filled with tulips, roses, ranunculus and a few other stems from Bowerbird, plus a few vintage candleholders. Now if only I felt equally inspired to cook!
As a proud woman-owned business led by Chelsea Combs, fourth-generation Durham native, Green Hill Contracting is dedicated to enhancing our neighbors’ homes with exceptional craftsmanship and personalized design.
Let’s build something great together. To start creating your dream space, contact us below!
DURHAM MOVES WITH US
Every space – and every outfit – starts as a blank canvas. My breakfast nook may be one of the smallest places in my house, but it’s also one of the spots I adore most. The shelves hold coastal finds and colored glass pieces, much of it sourced from Scrap Thrift. On the table sit cheerful pieces from Indio, including locally made mugs from Melville Ceramics, plus a bright (no pun intended) rechargeable lamp from Chet Miller and a Nate Hood Pottery vase filled with flowers grown in my neighbor’s yard.
Every vintage find, handmade mug, colorful pillow and statement ring tells a story – not just about personal style, but about the people and small businesses that make this community so dynamic. Long after the excitement of a purchase fades, that connection remains. So meander a little longer, peruse every display, and don’t be afraid to bring home something unexpected. Chances are, it’ll end up becoming one of your favorite things. Love the look? Discover the local shops and standout pieces that inspired this story.
2026 BEST OF DURHAM VOTED BEST PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM
FEELING GOOD
Clients share how these beloved health and wellness businesses help them thrive, from transformative treatments to trusted, compassionate care
BY SHARON KINSELLA
Igo [to Beem Light Sauna] four to six days a week. I [start with] the sauna [followed by] the red-light therapy. I soon noticed a tremendous difference in my skin – fine lines have softened noticeably, and the sagging under my chin has become firmer. It was very hard for me to experience my hair thinning dramatically after menopause, [but] thanks to Beem’s services, my hair is growing back!
Another wonderful impact is the anti-inflammatory effects. When my knee was acting up because of an [old] injury, just one session dramatically reduced my pain and swelling. Regular sessions at Beem have benefited me physically [while becoming] a grounding practice that contributes to my overall well-being. [The experience is] therapeutic and restorative, [helping calm] my nervous system, replenish my energy and [leave me] feeling refreshed.
[Franchise owner] Kiesha [Harding] puts her whole heart into all that she does, and it shows! She is so welcoming and cares for the people in our community. I love the social and educational events she [hosts] where I’ve learned about [lymphatic health], candle making, calligraphy, plants and more. I have met new people, developed new friendships and [even found] networking opportunities.
Beem is always immaculately clean [with thoughtful] touches throughout that make you feel special and catered to. [The staff] is warm, friendly, uplifting and attentive – present throughout the experience without ever feeling overbearing. They have come to feel like family.
Do your own research and learn about the many health benefits of infrared saunas and light therapy, and consider treating yourself regularly to a mini spa experience that will not only benefit you on a daily basis but also [positively] impact your health for years to come.
– Monique Ruvido, Beem Light Sauna client since 2024
ABOVE Monique Ruvido with Beem Light Sauna Health & Wellness Associate Kiana Dove. ”[The staff] have come to feel like family to me,” Monique says. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEYDI PONCE-ROMAN
Beem Light Sauna
Best Spa
Burn Boot Camp– South
Icame to Burn Boot Camp because I knew I needed to work out, but I struggled to stay motivated on my own. [Joining] was exactly the structure and accountability I needed. Physically, I’m stronger now than I was in my 20s. I can run without getting too winded, lift heavier than I ever imagined and easily carry both [of my] kids. Mentally, my health has improved tremendously. Burn has played a huge role in helping me feel confident and capable.
The leadership and trainers at Burn are truly exceptional. They push you while prioritizing your safety. I worked out through both of my pregnancies, and through all the highs and lows, I always felt supported and cared for. The training feels incredibly personalized, even in a group setting, and having [child care] is also a huge plus for me. I know my kids are safe and cared for [while I focus on myself].
When I lost my mom, [Burn] was the one place where I could feel grounded when everything else felt overwhelming. I’ve built an incredible support system there. We check in, hype one another up and hold one another accountable. I always joke that I come for my friends and the physical results are just a bonus, but there’s a lot of truth in that. The friendships I’ve made here have carried me through some of the hardest seasons of my life. Knowing they’ll be there – on the floating floor or in my corner – is one of the biggest reasons I keep coming back. Showing up at Burn reminds me that I’m investing in my future, my strength and the version of myself I want my partner and kids to see.
– Brendetta Huffman-Rowe,
Burn Boot Camp – South Durham client since 2019
”I want to be able to outrun my kids and keep up with their energy as they grow, but I also want to stay strong for myself,” Brendetta says. ”Taking care of my health –physically and mentally – has become a priority, not a luxury.”
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Durham
SBull City Run Club
Sports Club
omething no one told me is that making new friends in your 30s can be challenging. I joined a soccer league shortly after moving [to Durham in 2015], [but after] I got injured and sat out for a while, I realized I didn’t miss it at all. When I found Bull City Run Club, the difference was immediate. The club met at a [convenient] time and accommodated different running abilities – both length of run and pace – but the best part was the people. They were friendly, encouraging and inclusive. [The friendships] kept me coming back every week, rain or shine, and when the regular season ended in early November, I kept showing up in the dark. That’s when I met Michelle [Roth]. [One] night, only three of us showed up. [When we finished], I asked Michelle if she wanted to grab a beer. After three hours at Fullsteam playing musical bingo, I left with Michelle’s phone number and plans to go running after Christmas. We got married last June. Michelle and I each found run club on our own – we found friends and community, and then we found each other.
– Josh Otten, Bull City Run Club member since 2018
Ijoined Bull City Run Club when I was new to the Triangle in 2021 [and looking to] meet new people. The consistent and positive atmosphere created by the Bull City Running Co. team made me feel immediately welcome, even before I knew anyone, and the community they’ve cultivated has kept me coming back. I’ve made wonderful friends, met my now-husband, and [found motivation] to return to running more consistently, including participating in local races. I recently ran the Smoky Mountain Relay for the first time, and half [of the members] of our team of 12 were run club attendees.
There’s always someone to run with, but it’s also perfectly fine to run or even walk alone. I never feel pressure to perform or run at a certain level, but I always feel supported in working toward my running goals by both the community and the store staff. It has been a wonderful way to build community in a new city, stay healthy and active, and support local small businesses and nonprofits [which often partner with the club].
– Michelle Roth, Bull City Run Club member since 2021
I[was looking for] a studio that would mesh well with my experience as a dancer and [Pilates] teacher, and InsideOut Body
Therapies far exceeded my expectations. Their deep understanding of movement has been transformative for me. IOBT reshaped how I understand and perform any movement, helping me move more efficiently with strength and agility, and leaving me with a sense of lightness and power.
I have experienced Pilates classes in a variety of studios and, in my view, IOBT is second to none. [The instructors are] highly skilled, intelligent and sensitive, bringing wisdom built on extensive education and decades of experience as [both] teachers and practitioners of Pilates. It shows in the creative cueing, the organization of private sessions and classes, and their ability to tune in to what clients are experiencing, keeping sessions both challenging and fun.
Practicing at IOBT has consistently supported my well-being, helping me heal from injuries, develop new skills and generally feel more stable and mobile. [For anyone] considering trying it for the first time, I’d enthusiastically encourage it – with patience and consistency. It takes time and repetition to build the fundamentals, [but] it’s an investment in your quality of life. You’ll be supported [and welcomed] at IOBT, wherever you’re starting from.
– Amy Ginsburg, InsideOut Body Therapies client since 2005
Amy Ginsburg and InsideOut owner Deborah Matthews work through a stretch together. ”I greatly value teachers who bring a 'good eye' – meaning they can discern details and patterns and in how people move,” Amy says.
PHOTO BY SARAH G MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Dr.Kamrani,Payvand Aesthetic Solutions
Best Dermatologist
Icame to Aesthetic Solutions after feeling exhausted by the cycle I’d been stuck in for years. I’ve dealt with chronic inflammatory acne since middle school and gone through three rounds of Accutane. Each time, my skin would improve temporarily, but the acne always [returned]. I knew I needed a different approach – someone who would look at the bigger picture and build a real strategy. That search led me to Dr. [Payvand] Kamrani, and for the first time, I felt like I was moving in the right direction.
One of the biggest changes I noticed was how much calmer my skin became. The inflammation went down, the redness became less noticeable, and I was dealing with far fewer active breakouts. For the first time in a long time, I felt like my skin was genuinely becoming clearer.
From the beginning, Dr. Kamrani took the time to really understand my history and create a plan that made sense for me. She’s honest about what’s realistic, what takes time and what the next steps should be. I’ve learned that healthy skin is built through consistency and the right long-term strategy. [Her team is] warm, responsive and always willing to address concerns. I’ve never felt like just another patient there – I feel genuinely heard, valued and cared for.
For a long time, I felt stuck and frustrated with my skin, and that quietly affected how [I carried myself] every day. Now I feel more comfortable in my own skin, more disciplined with my skin-care routine and much more confident. People around me have even commented that I seem happier. I feel like I’m stepping into a better version of myself and continuing to grow.
– Zillion Moe, Aesthetic Solutions patient since 2026
Zillion Moe and Dr. Payvand Kamrani review treatment options together during an office visit. ”When you’ve struggled with something for years, having a team that gives you both a real plan and real hope means everything,” Zillion says.
PHOTO BY SARAH G MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Iinitially went to [Ignite Wellness] following neck fusion [surgery] as one of their first patients.
[Drs. Shannon Bigbie and Avery Garrabrant] have been able to [address severe deterioration of my spine] using gentle instrument-assisted techniques, [along with] spinal decompression therapy [and] laser therapy.
Ignite Wellness provides a tailored, customized approach for each patient in an open and welcoming environment that encourages healing. Efficiency and individual treatment plans streamline patient care [in a way that sets them apart] from other offices I’ve visited.
I continue [regular] chiropractic care [and] am able to function actively in my retirement years. I’m extremely happy to be able to join friends for daily [activities], participate with my grandchildren [each week] and [continue] driving and flying throughout this amazing care.
– Jane Pahner, Ignite Wellness Chiropractic Center patient since 2015
fter] my father had passed away, I was under a significant amount of stress dealing with his estate, so I originally went to [Dancing Qi owner Niki Juralewicz] for help with stress relief and sleep. I hadn’t tried [acupuncture] before, but I figured thousands of years of history [suggested] there was something to it, so I [gave it a try]. Acupuncture supported other changes that I was trying to make [related to] more healthful living.
Niki absolutely helped me reduce stress and sleep better. She is an excellent health care provider and a very caring person. One of the things I really enjoy and [that has] helped me most, is the time that she takes at the beginning of your appointment to listen to you about what’s going on in your life – not just what you went there for – and [provide support] around all of it. It’s not very often that you go to a provider [who gives you] that much time to just have a one-on-one conversation before they [begin treatment]. I continue to see [Niki] every two weeks because I feel there’s great benefit in the treatments.
–
Tracy
Vander Meer, Dancing Qi Acupuncture patient since 2017
Dancing Qi
Best Acupuncturist
Ignite Wellness
Best Chiropractor
Dr. Shannon Bigbie and Jane Pahner.
My son was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and passed away [that] July. I was devastated and could barely function. When I started [at Neighborhood Barre – Durham] in August 2025, I told [franchise owner] Morgan [Lamont] I wasn’t sure I’d be able to [come to barre class] regularly. The first class was hard – I used muscles I didn’t even know I had! But it was the first time in a long time that my mind allowed itself to shut off. I was so focused on my form and technique that, for a brief moment, my grief was pushed aside.
I started going several times a week and began to notice that not only did it [give] me a positive mindset for the rest of the day, but also my body was changing. You could see my biceps and triceps, and my legs never felt stronger. It’s the only exercise I’ve done [consistently without injury, which] has become more important as I age. It’s good to know this is something I can do long-term.
The team at Neighborhood Barre – Durham is like family. They have created a culture where everybody lifts one another up. People want to see one another succeed, and the instructors really know how to help you do that. I have made so many friends [there], which I’ve never experienced through a fitness class before.
I keep coming back because every time I walk in, it feels like a gathering of some of my favorite people. It’s a fun, happy place. For one hour, I can let go of all of my anxiety, worry, depression and [grief].
Thank you so much to our wonderful patients and community, who have voted for us and supported us!
~Dr Cristobal, Dr Wellons, and the ladies of HHCS
Through
Wavelengths
Iget compliments on my hair frequently, and honestly, I can’t take the credit – thanks to my parents for the genetics and [owner] Sherry [Clayton] for the mastery. My cuts work with my natural texture, grow out beautifully and actually fit my real life. Sherry is deeply skilled, [highly] technical and incredibly honest in the best possible way. She’s not going to send you home with a ”hair fantasy” you could never recreate yourself. She really listens and gives advice based on your hair type, face shape, lifestyle and how much time you actually want to spend styling. She takes her time, pays attention to detail and genuinely cares about helping people look and feel their best.
Feeling good in your hair isn’t frivolous – it’s part of how you are seen and move through the world. Having a style that feels natural, flattering and manageable gives me confidence and makes every morning easier.
I love the atmosphere at Wavelengths. It’s fun. You see people of all ages, styles and hair types leaving happy and looking great, and that says a lot about Sherry and the whole team. There’s a reason Wavelengths has thrived on Ninth Street for more than 30 years through so much change in Durham. It’s a wonderful women-owned business that combines real expertise with warmth, honesty and community care.
– Darcy Tyrrell, Wavelengths Salon client since 2015
Best Hair Salon
Sherry Clayton and Darcy Tyrell.
Top designers share the inspiration, challenges and smart solutions behind beautifully reimagined projects in the heart of the home
Center Stage
This home near Forest Hills features a 220-square-foot kitchen centered around a striking, vast island, creating a both a functional focal point and an easy gathering area – without interrupting the space’s natural flow – while the room itself acts as the anchor of an open-concept layout connecting kitchen, dining and living areas.
The CoCreations Construction & Design team used open-web truss framing to maximize span and flexibility in the floorplan. White oak flooring adds warmth underfoot, while brass lighting and hardware unify the home’s refined aesthetic.
High-performance LG appliances – including the refrigerator, range, hood and microwave – and a Bosch dishwasher deliver modern efficiency without visual disruption.
Kemper maple cabinetry in Foxhall Green and Kanga
finishes introduces intriguing color, balanced by Calacatta Osaka quartz countertops with bold veining. A backsplash of 5-inch Wellfleet Italian ceramic tile in Coconut softens the palette, and adds texture with a subtle coastal-inspired touch. The result blends elegance and everyday practicality, creating a space designed equally for daily routines and elevated entertaining.
Something Borrowed
A1913 Old East Durham home gained new life through a kitchen expansion that balances historic charm with modern function. The homeowners brought inspiration images from Los Angeles designer Jamie Haller, who specializes in historic renovations, to the team at Little Corner Construction, which helped set the tone for a space designed to evolve with their young family.
Grant Group Architecture is a Durham-based residential architecture firm specializing in client-centered, sustainable design for new construction, additions and renovations.
Photo: Marilyn Peryer
Photo: Lighthouse Visuals
Little Corner Construction expanded the home’s footprint by reclaiming space from an unused back porch and reconfiguring the back entry into a screened-in transition area.
Early in the project, the team tackled uneven flooring caused by decades of renovations before moving into the interior build-out. Once stabilized, the kitchen took shape with a large island that seats three, generous prep space and a layout designed for a serious home cook. A bell-curved range hood anchors a Portuguese hand-painted tile backsplash installed by Paragon Tile. Soapstone countertops from Absolute Stone and diamond-pattern venting on an 8-foot pantry add texture and detail. A 6-by-4 triple-sash glider window above the sink brings in natural light, framed by stained pine grilles.
Custom cherry French doors with antique brass cremone bolts connect to the dining area, while reclaimed heart pine flooring from Tarheel Reclaimed grounds the space. Panels by Paith provided the cabinetry, completing a warm, layered design filled with abundant natural light thanks to 10-foot ceilings and expansive windows.
Crowd Pleaser
This Hope Valley renovation transformed a kitchen, bar and butler’s pantry into a high-functioning entertaining hub built for an active mid-life family who regularly hosts gatherings of up to 50 guests.
The Kitchen Specialist reworked the current kitchen island’s shape to improve flow during large events, while carefully repurposing its existing marble countertop into the new bar
BUILT IN DURHAM. BUILDING ACROSS THE TRIANGLE.
Founded in 2014 by Durham native Brandt Smith, LEED AP, SGS Contracting has built a reputation for delivering high-quality commercial construction projects rooted in integrity, accountability, and long-term relationships.
As a certified North Carolina HUB and City of Durham SLBE commercial general contractor, SGS partners with educational institutions, healthcare
organizations, municipalities, and commercial clients across North Carolina to create spaces that strengthen communities.
From renovations and new build projects to specialized healthcare facilities and community-centered spaces, SGS brings national-level experience with a local commitment to every project.
Take a look at a snapshot of some of the projects that have shaped the community:
EDUCATION
SGS Contracting has partnered with K-12 schools, colleges, and universities across North Carolina to deliver impactful learning environments and campus improvements.
• Murray-Massenburg Elementary School — Durham, NC
• NCCU Radio Station Renovation — Durham, NC
• NC State Thomas Hall DNA Clean Room — Raleigh, NC
• UNC-Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library Renovation — Chapel Hill, NC
• Wake Technical Community College Therapeutic Massage Facility — Cary, NC
THE SGS DIFFERENCE
SGS Contracting combines technical expertise, responsive project management, and community-rooted values to deliver projects that last.
The company’s experience spans educational facilities, occupied renovations, specialized technical environments, accessibility upgrades, public-sector improvements, and commercial interiors. Every project is approached with the same philosophy: Build with integrity. Communicate with transparency. Deliver with excellence.
COMMERCIAL
SGS partners with commercial clients to create thoughtful, high-quality spaces that support business growth and customer experience.
• Well Groomed — Cary, NC
MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY
SGS helps municipalities and public institutions create safer, more functional spaces that directly serve local communities.
• Durham Public Schools Security Vestibules — Holt Elementary & School for Creative Studies — Durham, NC
• River Oaks Middle School Elevator Modernization — Raleigh, NC
• Broughton High School Central Elevator Modernization — Raleigh, NC
surface and backsplash. They looked to The Appliance Center, University Lights and Custom Stone & Marble to source materials; Maria Siegel of Goldenrod Place Interiors served as the interior designer. Selections include HanStone Tranquility quartz countertops, a Kohler Artifacts Gentleman’s bar faucet and Borgias white-and-gray polished marble tile. The all-wood custom cabinets include full extension and soft-close glides and hinges, with opaque finishes for a streamlined look.
Pocket doors conceal the butler’s pantry and wet bar, allowing the main kitchen to shift seamlessly from everyday use to full-scale entertaining.
Counter Culture
This 1926 Spanish Revival-style home near Duke Park received a full kitchen gut renovation that completely reimagined both layout and function.The first step was to open the wall of the original 12-by-12-foot kitchen to the adjoining den, making space for a new island. The process required the removal of a 3-by-2-foot defunct chimney that served the original coal heater.
During the build, Sheila O’Rourke of Little Mangum Studio embraced an unexpected design opportunity when she sourced
PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE MANGUM STUDIO
Where Durham’s Best Kitchens Are Built
Award-winning craftsmanship, designed for how you l ive.
ON DRAFT. DRIVEN BY DETAIL.
At Ironwood Custom Remodels, our expertise extends far beyond kitchens. We design and build bathrooms, attics, basements, and full home transformations with the same level of precision, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Each space is thoughtfully planned to enhance both function and comfort, whether it is a spa-like bathroom retreat, a reimagined attic, or a fully finished basement designed for everyday living.
a discounted soapstone slab marked by cracks along the top and edges, utilizing it for the focal point of the space. “The resulting piece was a little less wide and a little shorter than a standard piece,” Sheila says. “Since the new island was extending into an open room and did not have an exact length requirement, we made the island fit the stone, instead of the other way around. We ended up with my favorite island to date at 9 feet long and 4 feet wide.”
Sheila leaned into a European-inspired aesthetic rooted in natural, handcrafted materials. She selected zellige handmade tiles from Clé Tile for the backsplash and paired it with quartzite surfaces sourced from CRS Marble and Granite, fabricated by Vose Natural Stone in Raleigh, for the surrounding counters as well as within the backsplash and on the backsplash shelf.
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kieferlandscapinginc.com
She then layered gray-stained cabinetry from Prince & Sons with a hand-rubbed black paint finish to create a tonal, low-contrast palette. Greige perimeter cabinets, brass hardware, and off-white quartzite with soft bluegray veining extend that restrained palette throughout the room. A custom faux shade in Radish Moon Textiles fabric and a refrigerator from Garner Appliance & Mattress complete the space.
Kitchen Sync
CQC Home designed this kitchen in Hope Valley as part of a whole-home renovation for a growing family planning to stay put for years. Function and durability led every decision, with warmth and livability shaping the final look.
The homeowners wanted a kitchen that felt open and inviting for entertaining, yet still capable of handling
serious everyday cooking. The family placed equal emphasis on both aesthetics as well as storage flow and task separation. Natural wood beams, classic cabinetry and stone surfaces bring character without sacrificing performance.
So, the CQC Home team set about creating a highly functional kitchen with a clear, efficient workflow supported by thoughtful spatial planning. The layout centers on the range as the main work space, with the island serving as the primary prep and gathering
hub with intuitive, uninterrupted circulation paths among the cooking, cleaning and refrigeration zones.
High-performance appliances from Sub-Zero and Wolf were integrated early in the design process, allowing ventilation and placement to guide the architecture rather than disrupt it. A dedicated scullery adds a second layer of functionality, keeping daily prep and cleanup tucked out of sight while preserving a clean main kitchen for entertaining.
Celebrating the Durham institutions, creative spaces and local favorites that have earned readers’ votes – and shaped the Bull City community – for years
BY RENEE AMBROSO
In Full Bloom
Sarah P. Duke Gardens unveiled its Garden Gateway in April, welcoming the public to its new entrance, the Barnes Welcome Center, expanded green spaces and refreshed Doris Duke Center. The transformational $30 million project – which took a bit more than a year to complete – enhances accessibility, strengthens wayfinding, expands educational opportunities and creates community gathering spaces while preserving the garden’s character, which has defined the pivotal landmark for nearly 90 years.
BY
PHOTO
LORI SULLIVAN
The new, modern welcome center now serves as the primary arrival point, featuring a cafe, dedicated visitor lobby, gallery space, state-of-the-art classrooms, and indoor and outdoor gathering areas. It is also the first Duke building constructed under the university’s High Performance Building Framework, which outlines rigorous sustainability standards.
“People are spending more time getting oriented to the site,” says Executive Director Bill LeFevre. “They’re getting something to eat and drink at the cafe and enjoying the public courtyard before they go off into the gardens themselves. … The cafe has become a real favorite for students, and parking is much more accessible.”
The updates better equip the gardens to accommodate increased foot traffic, enhance visitor services and programming, and offer expanded capacity for gatherings and special events. Bill says annual visitation numbers now exceed 600,000 – more than double what it was 20 years ago when he joined the gardens. The Cherry Allée draws as many as 18,000 people a day during peak season in March and April. “The challenge for us going forward is always going to be to manage the expectations of the visitors and try to give them the best experience we can,” he says.
Expanded infrastructure includes safer school bus drop-off zones, while expanded classroom and event spaces support more educational programming, community events and university activities year-round.
From a once-hidden gem to an international destination, the gardens continue to grow in reach while staying rooted in a mission to connect more people with the natural world and its restorative benefits.
Gold Standard
Jewelsmith remains rooted in the ethics, the values, and the funky, abstract and contemporary aesthetic that founder and Durham native Linda McGill cultivated when she launched the company in 1976. After losing Linda – the studio’s creative force and guiding light – to cancer in 2021, the custom fine jeweler continues to honor her legacy through its exceptionally elegant, innovative, handcrafted jewelry and the lasting relationships built with the customers who cherish those pieces.
“It’s an incredible honor to be part of a business that has been visible, interactive and building in Durham for 50 years,” says President and General Manager Kristine Wylie, who joined the team in 2003 as a parttime receptionist. Over the years, Kristine says, Linda always encouraged and supported her as she stepped into roles with increasing responsibility. “There’s loyalty, tradition and joy [here],” Kristine says. “It’s an amazing honor to be part of this establishment that Linda built, which we can continue to grow for her.”
ABOVE The outdoor courtyard and breezeway adjacent to Duke Gardens' new Barnes Welcome Center offers a safer, more accessible entrance and shaded seating for visitors.
LEFT & BELOW
Jewelsmith celebrated its 50th anniversary with a decadent cake, ribboncutting ceremony and the unveiling of a new storefront mural by artist Morgan Cook.
PHOTO BY CATHI BODINE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
The Duke Arts Presents 2026-27 Season begins this September. Experience over 40 performances spanning original dance, renowned chamber ensembles, multidisciplinary productions, and our free outdoor concerts at American Tobacco Campus. Discover the next artist who moves you.
MAJOR | Oct 2, 2026
MAJOR by Ogemdi Ude is a nuanced love letter to majorette dance.
The business first opened under a different name at Lakewood Shopping Center before relocating to West Main Street across from Brightleaf Square in 1984 – when the name changed to Jewelsmith. After several subsequent moves, the studio settled into its current location at 2200 W. Main St. in 1999. What began with a single bench jeweler – an artisan skilled in creating, repairing and restoring fine jewelry – has expanded into a team of seven jewelers and 16 employees overall.
Goldsmith and designer Phillip Dismuke has worked at Jewelsmith for 35 years alongside several colleagues who have also spent multiple decades in their roles. “That’s because [Linda] was always taking care of her people and making sure everybody was paid a living wage,” he says. “And [now], we all look out for one another.”
That commitment to care extends well beyond the walls of the business, too. The team today carries on Linda’s ardent passion for uplifting others, civic engagement and charitable giving. “[Linda] invested in the community – she supported organizations that [champion] art, humanity and animal rights,” Kristine says. “Our contributions [now] often include donating custom jewelry for fundraising auctions, sponsoring events and participating in local initiatives that strengthen Durham’s cultural and social fabric.” The studio also partners with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every ring purchased.
Every piece of jewelry still gets designed and crafted in-house, preserving the handson artistry and high standards that have defined Jewelsmith for half a century. “It’s a human-based business,” Phillip says. “These are incredibly talented people. I look at some of [my colleagues’] work now, and I’m just really floored by what they’re doing.”
Even as Durham continues to evolve, Jewelsmith remains grounded in the relationships that have defined the store for generations. Whether clients browse the cases for a ready-made piece or collaborate with the designers to reimagine a family heirloom into something entirely new, the experience centers on trust and care. Kristine says that commitment helps explain why the children and grandchildren of many of Linda’s earliest customers still return to the shop today. “I promised Linda that we would always keep Jewelsmith true to her core,” Kristine says.
The Show Goes On
This year, the Carolina Theatre commemorates a century as the central hub for film and live performance in the heart of downtown. “This milestone represents a celebration of resilience, creativity and especially community,” says President and CEO Randy McKay. “It’s a testament to the
Funny Business
“
Mettlesome’s story is about persistence,” says founder Ashley Melzer
“We have such a beautiful community here, and we have fought hard for it [for more than] 10 years.” The performance and production collective began with a single monthly show in a residential garage. After several evolutions and venue shifts, it now operates out of a 1,600-square-foot theater at Golden Belt, offering classes and workshops in addition to live comedy and theater shows. “The joy and challenge of [our work] is that we are both a training center and a venue for high-caliber talent,” says Artistic Director Jack Reitz “Our curriculum teaches improv and sketch comedy as well as theater, acting and clowning.” The nonprofit centers inclusivity and aims to amplify the voices of local comedians and performers alongside national talent. “I think we wouldn’t be here 10 years later if we weren’t ambitious … and [reaching] for what we don’t even know we’re capable of,” Jack says. Mettlesome now hosts roughly 30 shows a month in pursuit of showcasing, in their words, “the best damn comedy in the South.”
A 10-year anniversary celebration the last two weekends in August will feature more than 50 performances, including local acts and visiting comedy groups from across the South and New York City. Ashley expects she’ll spot more than a few familiar faces in the audience during the event.
“There are people who have been here for the whole journey,” she says. “It’s a beautiful thing to see [them still here] and [to see] so many new people both finding their way to comedy and to one another.”
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
generations of artists, audiences, volunteers, staff and supporters who have kept the theater alive. Its most [pivotal] moments have happened because the community demanded it – from the student protesters who desegregated the theater [in the 1960s] to the volunteers who rose up when the building was scheduled for demolition [in later decades].”
Originally known as Durham Auditorium, the building expanded over time, including a cinema wing added in the 1990s. Today, it hosts festivals and educational initiatives in addition to year-round performances. Three on-site exhibits inside the venue detail this journey, tracing its evolution from movie house to arts nonprofit.
Through every era, the theater has remained a gathering place where Durhamites seek entertainment and inspiration. It functions as part of the Bull City’s cultural identity. “For many, it’s where they see their first performance through our Arts Discovery Educational Series, walk across the stage in Fletcher Hall to graduate or share major life moments like first dates, engagements and even weddings,” Randy says.
The centennial year calendar showcases the breadth of the theater’s programming: the Family Saturday Series and the Sensory Friendly Film Series offer affordable and free arts experiences for audience members of all ages; the 31st annual OutSouth Queer Film Festival in August highlights LGBTQ+ stories; and headlining musicians like Three Dog Night and Melissa Etheridge as well as comedians like Fred Armisen bring their acts to Fletcher’s stage. “We’re especially excited to copresent ‘Apollo,’ a dance-theater work by Pioneer Winter Collective, in partnership with American Dance Festival on June 25,” Randy adds. The piece, which was co-commissioned by the Carolina Theatre, explores intergenerational queer dynamics, memory and legacy.
Special celebrations include the theater’s annual fundraiser, Dancing with the Carolina Stars, and a New Year’s Eve gala, as well as a Retro Silent Film Series and several new pilot programs like The Concert Truck, a mobile concert hall that will visit schools in and around Durham, and Cirque Kikasse, a traveling circus and food truck experience coming to nearby neighborhoods and rural communities.
“We’re excited about finding new ways to bring our programming beyond the walls of the theater and into the community,” Randy says. “At the same time, we’re focused on continuing what we’ve always done best: bringing people together through shared artistic and educational experiences. … We invite everyone to be part of the next chapter, whether that means attending a show, supporting our work or simply sharing in the experience of the arts.”
A Lifetime of Learning
Few places spark childhood wonder quite like the Museum of Life and Science. It has served as a hub for science, nature exploration and hands-on learning for the past eight decades, growing from a modest nature center into a regional destination that now welcomes more than 650,000 visitors annually. Its 84-acre property includes a two-story science center, multiple interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits, one of the region’s largest butterfly conservatories and an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoo home to more than 60 species including black bears, lemurs and endangered red wolves.
The museum’s roots run deep in Durham. It established its current campus off Murray Avenue in the 1960s, debuting the original Prehistory
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE
Trail – a predecessor to the current Dinosaur Trail – which remains an iconic landmark and a source of nostalgia for countless Durhamites.
Today, signature attractions such as the Ellerbe Creek Railway, Hideaway Woods and Insectarium continue to encourage curiosity while emphasizing nature-based learning and environmental stewardship. Those same themes shape the museum’s camps, sensory-friendly exhibits and STEM-centered educational programming designed for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The museum continues to invest in new programming to engage the community and make science learning accessible and relevant. This spring, it unveiled “From Here On: Shaping Our Future,” a sprawling immersive exhibit exploring climate, sustainability and the future of our planet through both indoor and outdoor activations. The four-year project also introduced the new Solutions Coffee Bar and Climate Patio, which features sustainable design elements like a rainwater capture system, a wall of air-purifying plants and a passive structure designed to naturally regulate temperature.
Director of Exhibit Development Molly Trask-Price says the exhibit was intentionally designed “in a way that localizes it to the people that live here,” as seen in the collection of stories from North Carolina organizations highlighting how they are working to build a better future. Partnering with local groups and gathering community feedback allowed the team to create an experience that feels customized to Durham and accessible to visitors of all backgrounds and abilities, she says. Upcoming projects include a major renovation of Sprout Café aimed at increasing capacity while meeting Living Building Challenge standards – a certification program defining today’s most advanced measure of sustainability.
“Our attendance grows every year, and our cafe has to grow and expand [to accommodate] that,” says Ro Rode, the museum’s director of communications and marketing. “It’ll be a big change, and we are updating the ways our paths are going to move around that space.” During the anticipated two-year construction period, Southern Harvest Hospitality Group will serve museum guests through a pair of food trucks stationed onsite. Additional plans include a new biotechnology exhibit expected to open by the end of 2027. It’s all in an effort to further the museum’s mission: inviting people of every age to explore, experiment and imagine.
Step Up
Sisters Kaitlin Davis and Sarah Davis turned a shared lifelong passion for dance into Davis Dance Company, now a thriving studio in Durham five years after its founding.
The Wilmington, North Carolina, natives got their start after moving to the Triangle from Atlanta.
“We didn’t know anyone,” Kaitlin says. “We started with 12 students, and now we have around 300, which is incredible.
Liv Trujillo, 4, Kaitlin Davis, Hailey Holmes, 4, Ava James Simpson, 4, and Sarah Davis.
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
The community [we’ve found] here in Durham has been beyond our wildest dreams.”
Kaitlin started dance lessons when she was just 3 years old, and younger sibling Sarah soon followed in her footsteps. Both studied dance at East Carolina University and found work as professional dancers before opening their own studio.
“If you’d asked us when we were teenagers if we would ever start a business together, I think both of us would have answered a firm ‘no,’” Kaitlin laughs. “I’m so thankful our relationship has grown and changed, and it was always on the radar for both of us to [do this].”
Sarah says that the initial stress she felt wondering whether classes would fill up has diminished as the studio’s community of students and instructors – now eight total – has shown steady growth. “It was a really big leap, but I’m glad we’ve done it,” she says. “We’ve grown rapidly, and I definitely didn’t think it would happen this quickly.” The addition of a third studio space this summer will accommodate even more students for the upcoming season, which runs from August to May 2027.
Classes and camps serve ages 1.5 and older, in addition to adults, emphasizing inclusivity across ability levels and body types. “We firmly believe that dance is for every single person on this planet,” Kaitlin says. “We keep things gender neutral – there’s a lot of
stereotypical male and female norms, especially in traditional ballet, and we try to break away from those as much as possible.” She and Sarah guide instructors to maintain a safe, emotionally positive environment, which they didn’t always experience in dance classes growing up. “[We keep in mind] that the words you say to kids can stick with them forever,” she says.
or learning
Whitley Atkins, 8, Zoe Trujillo, 9, Emilia Slinker, 12, Aubrey Atkins, 11, and Raina Jaggers, 9, practice a routine at Davis Dance Company.
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Kaitlin never dreamed Davis Dance would grow quite this quickly, but she felt certain she and Sarah were on the right path the moment they set foot into their future studio space. “I just had this feeling that it was exactly where we were meant to be,” she says.
When renovations of the studio’s building at 2122 Sovereign St. ran longer than expected, the sisters pivoted, hosting their first summer camp at a nearby church that offered space free of charge. “I think that’s such a testament to Durham as a city and a community,” Kaitlin says. “I’ve experienced that love and support since we’ve been here, and I don’t think there’s any place like it.”
Go With the Flow
“
We’re an organization that started with citizen advocacy,” says Eno River Association Executive Director Ryan Fehrman. “[In the ’70s], Margaret Nygard mobilized her neighbors and folks throughout the community to prevent the damming of the Eno River, and over time, we’ve protected more than 8,000 acres, [we] were instrumental in creating both the [Eno River] State Park and West Point on the Eno, and we now … have our own preserves, so the organization has really grown and evolved over the past 60 years.”
The organization advocated to establish the 404-acre West Point on the Eno city park in 1973, and has hosted its signature fundraiser, Festival for the Eno, at the site since 1980. The vibrant, folksy celebration combines music, dance, art and advocacy, bringing people together along the Eno and inspiring those who attend to help to protect it. It’s a cherished summertime tradition that thousands of Durhamites across multiple generations have experienced.
PRIMROSE BAR & LOUNGE
But in 2025, tropical storm Chantal swept through the area only hours after the festival ended. Flood damage and other effects of an increasingly unpredictable climate, such as excessive heat, intensified ongoing conversations about the “size, scope and sustainability of the festival,” Ryan says. Ultimately, organizers chose to reenvision the 47th annual fundraiser – which also marks the ERA’s 60th anniversary – with the intention of returning to a festival-style format in spring 2027 at a new location. The shift comes in part because West Point is expected to close for construction from June 2026 through next spring.
For this year’s fundraiser, ERA will host a benefit concert Sept. 12 at the Carolina Theatre, an event spearheaded by producer, composer, musician, and ERA Event and Store Manager H.C. McEntire. The format honors the festival’s roots by holding a free gathering complete with live music, activities and vendor booths with local nonprofit partners on the plaza outside the theater prior to the ticketed concert.
“It’s been a tough year with the flooding,” H.C. says. “There’s a feeling of responsibility to honor Margaret Nygard and the legacy of the festival – the grassroots spirit of organizing around the event and the passion for protecting the lands around the river that means so much to [Durham] – it’s an honor to meet that [charge] and connect with elders who have seen the organization grow through the decades … and try to provide the community with a little bit of creative respite.”
As both a performer and ERA staff member, H.C. understands how the festival unites the community through art, music and environmental advocacy. She says this year’s event reflects the ERA’s continued dedication to conservation, environmental stewardship and education – from raising awareness about the history of the river and its surrounding lands to teaching folks about its ecosystems, local wildlife and native plants. More than a celebration, the gathering serves as a reminder that protecting the Eno remains a shared responsibility, ensuring future generations of Durhamites can continue to explore, enjoy and advocate for the river for years to come.
block . The cocktails are delicious and worth the hype. Nathan makes the best drinks and took great care of us!”
Eno River Association Event and Store Manager H.C. McEntire and Executive Director Ryan Fehrman in front of the Carolina Theatre, where the organization's 47th annual fundraiser will be held Sept. 12.
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Shine On
For 25 years, Hamilton Hill Jewelry has helped mark life’s meaningful milestones – from engagements and anniversaries to family heirlooms and everyday pieces that become part of a person’s story over time.
“We have the coolest, smartest, most gracious clients in the world – that’s been true from the beginning,” says gemologist Sarah Hill, who cofounded the downtown jewelry store in 2001 alongside former partner Michael Hamilton. “Some of those people [are still customers] today, and some of their kids and even grandkids [shop here, too].”
Sarah, a Chapel Hill native, spent much of her childhood visiting downtown Durham before the city’s more recent revitalization transformed the area into the bustling destination it is today. She’s also lived within a mile of the shop for the past 25 years, giving her a front-row seat to the neighborhood’s evolution – and immense pride in helping shape it.
Hamilton Hill curates work from roughly 20 modernist and contemporary jewelry designers, nearly double the number the store carried in its early years. The addition of two in-house goldsmiths also expanded the shop’s capabilities, allowing the team to create custom pieces while handling repairs and restorations with great care and precision.
Sarah (pictured left) says navigating Durham’s rapidly changing landscape and shifting consumer habits hasn’t been easy, but the role she plays still feels deeply rewarding. “It’s very gratifying to be going strong,” she says. Her passion for gemstones, jewelry, fashion and design continues to fuel the energy and enthusiasm she pours into both clients and employees. “It never did seem like work,” she says. “[Which] is not to say it doesn’t involve effort and sometimes a little bit of stress – but it’s an incredible gig, and we’re so grateful to the community for supporting us.”
Photo by Pamela Jahnke
PHOTO BY CHRIS HILDRETH, ROOSTER MEDIA
OUR BEST OF DURHAM
*All results are listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
Dining
New Restaurant
Dino’s Pizza
Cheeni Indian
Food Emporium (RTP)
Hatch Burritos
Tataco
Overall Restaurant
Little Bull
Nanas
Seraphine
Vin Rouge
WINNERS
Burger
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Only Burger
Fries
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
Bull City Burger and Brewery
The Federal
Sandwiches
Eastcut Sandwich Bar
Foster’s Market
Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery
Parker and Otis
Breakfast/ Brunch
Elmo’s Diner
Guglhupf Bakery
& Restaurant
Monuts
Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails
Coffee Shop
Bean Traders
Cocoa Cinnamon
Guglhupf Bakery
& Restaurant
Joe Van Gogh
Dessert/Pastries
Dulce Cafe
Guglhupf Bakery
& Restaurant
Little Barb’s Bakery
Nantucket Grill
Chef Oscar Diaz earned Best of Durham honors for Little Bull, Aaktun and Tataco; readers also named him one of Durham’s best chefs.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
*All results are listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
Place for a Date Night
Nanas
Nerra
Primrose Bar & Lounge
Seraphine
Vin Rouge
Place for a Late Night
Alley Twenty Six
Bar Virgile
Queeny’s
The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge
Steak
Metro 8 Steakhouse
NanaSteak
Vin Rouge
Nanas
Barbecue
Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue
Byrd’s BBQ Restaurant & Catering
The Original Q Shack
Picnic Barbecue
Place for Vegetarians
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
Foster’s Market
Goorsha
Pure Soul
Seafood
M Sushi
Nerra
Saltbox Seafood Joint
Seraphine
Mexican Food
Cosmic Cantina
Fonda Lupita
Little Bull
Mezcalito
Taqueria La Vaquita
Asian Food
Juju
M Sushi
Shanghai Restaurant
Thaiangle Restaurant
Sushi
Koi Sushi & Hibachi
M Sushi
Shiki Sushi Asian Bistro
Sushi Love
Indian Food
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium
Lime & Lemon
Indian Grill & Bar
Urban Turban
Indian Grill and Bar
Viceroy
Latin/Caribbean Food
Aaktun
Alpaca Peruvian
Charcoal Chicken
Boricua Soul
Luna Rotisserie & Empanadas
Greek/Mediterranean Food
Bleu Olive Mediterranean
Bistro
Neomonde Mediterranean
Nikos
Parizade
Italian Food
Cucciolo Osteria
Gocciolina
Mothers & Sons Trattoria
Pizzeria Toro
Pizza
Emmy Squared
Hutchins Garage
Pizzeria Toro
Randy’s Pizza
Wings
Bralie’s Sports Bar & Grill
Chicken Bee
The Chicken Hut
Heavenly Buffaloes
Frozen Treats
Andia’s Ice Cream
ABOVE Tiny hands, big doughnut decisions. Monuts earned Best of Durham honors for breakfast/brunch.
LEFT Thaiangle keeps bringing the flavor — it won best new restaurant last year, and is now among one of Durham’s top spots for Asian cuisine.
Goodberry's Frozen Custard
LocoPops
The Parlour
Two Roosters Ice Cream
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Bull City Burger and Brewery
Elmo’s Diner
Lakewood Social
Mellow Mushroom
Food Truck
Bulkogi Korean BBQ
Chirba Chirba Dumpling
El Sazón de Mi Huasteca
Gussy’s
Chef
Oscar Diaz, Aaktun, Adios! by Oscar Diaz, Little Bull & Tataco
Matt Kelly, Nanas
Alexis Lawson, Nerra
David Lopez, Atomic Clock Brewing Co.
Restaurant Catering
Alpaca Peruvian
Charcoal Chicken
Byrd’s BBQ Restaurant & Catering
Hope Valley Diner and Catering Company
The Original Q Shack
Saladelia Cafe & Catering
Full-Service
Beth
Sophisticated
Washington
White
Mocktails
Alley
Arcana
Da
The
Cocktails
Alley
Bar Virgile
Primrose
The
Craft
The
Jewelry
Fink’s
Hamilton
John
Clothing
Rumors
Smitten
Thrift/Consignment
Store
Pennies
Boutique
Scrap
Home
TROSA
Home
Chet
TROSA
Hemp/Cannabis
Durham-Made
Major Minors earned the title of best new business in last year’s poll. This year, readers named it among Durham’s best summer camps.
21c Museum Hotel doubles as an art gallery and a place to stay — and Durham readers recognized it as one of the best in both categories.
PHOTO
CORNELL WATSON
Professional
Yoga/Pilates/Barre Center
InsideOut Body Therapies
Neighborhood Barre – Durham
Recess Yoga Studio
Virge Yoga
Yoga Off East
Videographer
Big
Fifty
NS Media Group Wil Weldon
Tattoo
Creative
Dogstar
Kings
Welcome Tattoo
Sports Club
Bull City Run Club
Durham Queer Sports
Forge Fencing
Hollow Rock Racquet & Swim Club
United Thai Boxing & MMA
Hair Salon
Steelo Salon
Rock Paper Scissors
Willow Hair Studio
Posh The Salon
Wavelengths Salon
Nail Salon
Bliss Nail Bar
B.Jordyn Nails
The Haven Beauty
Posh Nail Spa
Spa
Beem Light Sauna Durham
Bella Trio Salon & Spa
The Retreat
Sauna House
Massage Therapy
Auroraflow
Bloodstone Spa & Shoppe
Durham Community Bodywork
Fuzion Professional Massage Therapy
The Retreat
Dermatologist
Dr. Garrett S. Bressler
Dr. Brooke Jackson, Skin Wellness
Dermatology Associates
Dr. Payvand Kamrani, Aesthetic Solutions
Dr. Jeffrey Scales, North Carolina Center for Dermatology
Acupuncturist
Julie Barefoot, Duke Integrative Medicine Center
Dancing Qi Acupuncture
Dr. Christi De Larco, Piedmont Acupuncture
Healthcare
Ping Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic
Janet Shaffer, Duke Integrative Medicine Center
PHOTO BY ALEX BOERNER
Dancing Qi Acupunture
*All results are listed in alphabetical order **The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
Therapist
Insight Counseling Center, PLLC
Mathews Counseling
Therapy Smarts
Waypoint Counseling & Maternal Wellness
Audiologist
Better Hearing Rehabilitation Center
Duke Otolaryngology
Hearing Health Care Services
North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat
Chiropractor
Bella Vita Chiropractic
Ignite Wellness Chiropractic Center
Dr. David Martin, Precision Chiropractic
Dr. Tamika Sims, Functional Restoration Chiropractic
Cosmetic/
Plastic Surgeon
Aesthetic Solutions
Gunn Plastic Surgery Center
Dr. Jeffrey S. Jelic, Jelic Center
Dr. Julie Ann Woodward, Duke Aesthetic Center
Optometrist/ Ophthalmologist
Academy Eye Associates
Duke Eye Center
Dr. Tonica Johnson, Eye Physicians & Surgeons of Durham
Rosenstein Vision Center
General Dentist
Bull City Smiles
Bull City Dental
Croasdaile Dental Arts
Desiree T. Palmer, DMD, PA & Associates
Sunrise Dental of Durham
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Jeffrey S. Jelic, Jelic Center
Dr. Debra M. Sacco, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
Dr. Adam D. Serlo, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
Dr. Brian Vandersea, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
Orthodontist
Dr. Gavin Heymann, Smith & Heymann Orthodontics
King Orthodontics
Dr. Gina Lee, North Durham Orthodontics
Dr. J. Dempsey Smith, Smith & Heymann Orthodontics
Endodontist
Dr. Linda G. Levin, Levin Endodontics
Dr. A.K. Bobby Mallik
Dr. Roger A. McDougal, McDougal Endodontics
Ritter Endodontics
Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Erica A. Brecher, Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Robert T. Christensen, Durham Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Dr. Jenny Citineni, Smile First Dental
Dr. Amy C. Davidian,Southpoint Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Martha Ann Keels, Duke Street Pediatric Dentistry
Prosthodontist
Dr. Geoffrey R. Cunningham, Durham Prosthodontics
Dr. R. Kyle Gazdeck, Durham Prosthodontics
Dr. Mark S. Scurria, Triangle Restoration Dentistry
Tar Heel Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
Periodontist
Dr. Ellie Bash
Dr. Arnold Todd McClain Periodontics and Dental Implants of North Carolina
Dr. Samantha Robles
Tar Heel Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
Home & Garden
Real Estate Agent
Lisa Ellis, Real Estate by Design
Carl Johnson, Carl Johnson Real Estate
Dara Shain, Inhabit Real Estate
Susan Ungerleider, RED Collective Tye Williams, Nest Realty
The team at True Design, named among the best interior designers, has one simple goal for their clients: to “elevate your style and make sure it fits your needs,” Liz Templeton Scisco says.
PHOTO BY MARK TERRY
s P ecialists in
Geoffrey R. Cunningham, DDS, MS, FACP R. Kyle Gazdeck, DDS, MS, FACP
Drs. Geoffrey Cunningham and Kyle Gazdeck are Board Certified Prosthodontists serving the Triangle region. They specialize in creating custom smiles with dental implants, crowns, veneers, and dentures. Their board certification achievement makes Durham Prosthodontics stand out as the only prosthodontic practice in the Raleigh-Durham area with dually Boarded Specialists.
**The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
Painting Company
Brush Up Painting
Gonzalez Painters & Contractors Inc.
Hansell Painting Co.
Zarazua Painting
HVAC Repair
Alternative Aire
Brown Brothers Plumbing and Heating Company
Streamline Services
Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical
Talley’s Heating and Air
Electrician
B. Smith’s Electric LLC
Bryant-Durham Services
Streamline Services Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical
Vaughan Electric Co. Inc.
Plumber
Acme Plumbing Co.
Brown Brothers Plumbing and Heating Company
Greene Hunt Inc.
Streamline Services Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical
Cleaning Services
Ana’s Cleaning Services
Carpe Diem Cleaning
Lucie’s Home Services
You’ve Got Maids of Durham
Storage Facility
Ample Storage Center
Brassfield Self Storage
Public Storage
TROSA Moving and Storage
Truckin’ Movers
Moving Company
RCS Commercial Moving & Warehousing
TROSA Moving and Storage
Truckin’ Movers
Two Men and a Truck
Florist
Bluebird Meadows
Bowerbird Flowers & Apothecary
Floral Dimensions
Ninth Street Flowers
Neighborhood Garrett Farms
Hope Valley
Trinity Park Watts Hospital-Hillandale Woodcroft
Arts & Entertainment
Dance Studio
Barriskill Dance Theatre School Davis Dance Company Fred Astaire Dance Studios Ninth Street Dance
Venue for Community Theater Carolina Theatre Hayti Heritage Center
Mettlesome
Reynolds Industries Theater, Duke University
ABOVE Angela Lee, past executive director of the Hayti Heritage Center, stands inside the historic venue. A hub for outstanding cultural and artistic programs, the center earned its place among the Bull City’s best community theaters.
LEFT Barriskill Dance Theatre School’s classes and summer camps are a favorite for kids and parents alike!
Venue
Admas Belay and Megan Mungal celebrated their wedding last year at Best of Durham-winning event venue The Cookery, complete with rentals from readers’ favorite event rental company, American Party Rentals.
*All results are listed in alphabetical order
**The presence of five or more winners is the result of a tie
Event Space
Carolina Theatre
The Cookery
Durham Central Park
Museum of Life and Science
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Group Outing
Crafts & Drafts NC
Durham Bulls
Durham Farmers Market
Durham Performing Arts Center
Frog Hollow Outdoors
Family Outing
Durham Bulls
Eno River State Park
Museum of Life and Science
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Xtreme Park Adventures
Festival
American Dance Festival
Beaver Queen Pageant CenterFest
Festival for the Eno
PHOTO BY LAURA MEMORY PHOTOGRAPHY
Note in the Pocket receives the fourth annual Best of Durham Social Impact Award
BY REBEKAH MANN
shift from summer to fall in 2005 marked a different kind of transition for first-year kindergarten teacher Margaret Reiland. Cooler temperatures became a catalyst for action when she noticed several students coming to class without coats.
Margaret turned to her mother, Susan Reiland, for help organizing a clothing drive for her classroom. Students eagerly accepted coats for the approaching winter, but several tried to return them the next day. Their families believed the items were only on loan, so a note was tucked into each pocket that read,
“This is a gift from the community.”
Margaret and Susan soon realized the need stretched far beyond a single classroom. They expanded their outreach efforts, distributing clothing out of Susan’s garage and local church spaces. Their grassroots mission eventually evolved into Note in the Pocket – a Triangle-based nonprofit that improves educational equity by addressing clothing insecurity. Former executive director Dallas Bonavita helped the organization secure 501(c)(3) status in 2013 and move into its first dedicated space in north Raleigh. Note in the Pocket served about 2,000 people annually at that time. The nonprofit expanded to Durham in
2024, and its new 14,000-square-foot volunteer center has already supported approximately 3,500 local residents. In 2025, Note in the Pocket provided clothing to more than 11,000 individuals across Durham and Wake counties, bringing its total reach to more than 75,000 people since 2013. During that same period, it processed more than 2.5 million pounds of donated clothing and delivered more than 1 million items to those in need.
Current board chair Jeremy Petranka joined Note in the Pocket’s board in 2021 and says the organization relies on two distribution models to meet community needs. The nonprofit primarily uses a referral system with school social workers to provide clothing discreetly to students and families, but school closures in 2020 prompted the organization to launch Pocket Pop-Ups, free mobile boutiques open to the community.
Volunteers help preserve Note in the Pocket’s mission of delivering every item with dignity and love. Each year, more than 10,000 volunteers sort and inspect donations collected from drop-off locations across the Triangle, carefully processing clothing through multiple rounds of quality checks to ensure that there are no rips, holes, pilling or stains, and that all zippers, buttons and clasps work properly. Sizing, garment type and personal style are also taken
HOW WE SHOW UP IN THE WORLD AS PEOPLE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IS POSSIBLE. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE –KIDS, CHILDREN, TEENS – NOTE IN THE POCKET IS AN AVENUE TO THAT CONFIDENCE.
- Monique N. Colclough, a Durham volunteer who’s contributed more than 140 hours since 2024
into account to build outfits that reflect each recipient’s needs and interests. “When a student is wearing new clothes that they’re proud of, it’s like armor that they have,” Jeremy says. “They can be themselves, be proud and go to school with excitement.”
Operations Director Tammy West has witnessed those moments of joy many times since joining the organization in 2016. She recalls watching two children find brand-new shoes at a pop-up last year. The kids immediately started running in circles after realizing the shoes fit, believing their new kicks gave them the ability to run faster.
“I thought, ‘This is why we’re doing what we’re doing,’” she says. “It’s a million different things like that [where] we get to see the joy that we bring.”
LEFT Morgan and Amanda inspect a garment for signs of wear.
Note in the Pocket ’s mission is to provide quality clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families with dignity and love. Support its cause by donating new and gently used shoes and clothing of all sizes to:
112 Broadway St. Drop-off Hours Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
For more donation information and drop-off locations, visit noteinthepocket.org
ABOVE Several Triangle Media Partners team members – including Renee Ambroso, Megan Hussey, Jasmine Gaines, Lindsay Scott, Rory Gillis, Sharon Kinsella, Cassady Orsini, Morgan Cartier Weston, Jenna Parks, Amanda MacLaren and Sally Scruggs – after a recent volunteer shift at Note in the Pocket.
CUSTOM HOMES, BUILT AROUND PEOPLE.
WILL
JOHNSON BUILDING COMPANY, A CHAPEL HILL & DURHAM LEGACY
F o r m o r e t h a n 3 0 y e a r s , W i l l J o h n s o n B u i l d i n g C o m p a n y
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home
Jose Serrano and Chrissy Serrano relax poolside while Leo Serrano, Camille Serrano, Emily O’Shea, Sofie Serrano, Edie Carnes and Laney Robinson hop in the inviting water.
Make a Splash
A backyard transformation elevates daily life for this busy family
BY MORGAN CARTIER WESTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
The Serrano family – Chrissy, Jose and their kids, Robbie, 18, Sofie, 15, Leo, 12, and Camille, 10 – graced our 2023 holiday issue just two years after settling into life in their Colvard Farms home. Even then, they had already made significant progress transforming much
LEFT
and
of the indoor spaces, renovating the kitchen, dining, pantry, living and bar areas to better suit the family of six’s active lifestyle. Since then, the Serranos have turned their attention to maximizing enjoyment beyond the home’s four walls, creating a backyard retreat designed for gathering and entertaining in addition to everyday living. With summer fast approaching and work on the outdoor living spaces wrapping up, it felt like the ideal time to return and see the transformation firsthand.
Chrissy and Jose worked closely with John Michenfelder of White Oak Group Outdoor Living to design distinct spaces
ABOVE A stately brick fireplace anchors the outdoor living room. Though the structure came from a kit, Chrissy added the copper chimney cap herself. “It completes the look,” she says.
Each outdoor space flows seamlessly into the next through a cohesive mix of finishes, textures
inviting seating areas.
ABOVE The deck is outfitted with Phantom screens, which can be lowered to keep insects at bay without obstructing the view, transforming the space into a true extension of the home.
BELOW Poolside lounge chairs sit atop bluestone pavers lined with diagonal turf inlays that bring balance and sophistication to the design.
for various backyard activities: swimming, play, cooking, dining and relaxation. “Our family uses the yard in so many different ways, from dogs running around to kids in the pool, adults tanning, family fire pit time and wine nights with friends,” Chrissy says. “I didn’t want it to feel cluttered, so we created several shared zones.” They considered sun exposure, shade and wind patterns to make each area comfortable throughout the day and across seasons.
The living room’s sliding glass doors open to a spacious covered deck, made even more functional thanks to the addition of Phantom retractable screens that extend its use year-round. Chrissy selected a durable hardwood called ipe – pronounced “ee-pay” – to extend the deck and staircase leading down to the new pool area, complete with a builtin hot tub, which was completed in spring 2025. “The kids are in the hot tub nine times out of 10 in the spring and fall,” Chrissy laughs.
Construction on the pool itself moved relatively quickly, though the inspection process slowed the timeline down a bit. The family also invested considerable effort into ensuring every new element blended
ABOVE Chrissy and Jose enjoy cooking and gathering for family meals in the new outdoor kitchen.
ABOVE RIGHT The outdoor kitchen was built for entertaining, complete with three grills, a game-day TV and generous prep space.
BELOW The cozy dining table seats six, while overhead lighting and ceiling fans keep family and guests comfortable from brunch through late-night gatherings.
seamlessly with the existing exteriors. White brick walls that match the home’s facade cascade naturally down toward the pool deck, softened by a layer of lush plants that give the transition a polished, cohesive feel. The saltwater pool is flanked by a patio and lounge chairs on one side and the family’s vegetable garden on the other. “This summer, we’re growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers,” Chrissy says. Beyond the pool, an open parcel of lawn remains to give the kids and family dogs, Zion and Peaches, plenty of room to stretch their legs.
Still, the true centerpiece of the reno sits beneath the deck: a thoughtfully designed outdoor kitchen and living space that has quickly become the heart of the backyard. Jose can grill, smoke and prep meals simultaneously thanks to a kamado-style grill, gas grill, flat top and expansive counter space. Nearby, a built-in herb garden fills the corner between the staircase and the grilling area, and an airy dining area outfitted with ceiling fans and battery-operated lanterns invites guests to linger as conversations continue long after dinner ends. Steps away, the adjacent lounge area features a stunning wood-burning fireplace, creating
The family garden has created new opportunities for the Serranos to spend quality time together. Enclosed raised beds protect fruits and vegetables from deer and other wildlife, while nearby storage keeps gardening and pool tools neatly organized.
THE GROVE AT LATTA PARK DEBUTING THIS SUMMER NEW HOMES IN A WALKABLE COMMUNITY IN A PARK SETTING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL!
ANTICIPATED PRICING FROM THE HIGH $300'S 715 LATTA ROAD, DURHAM NC 27712
the perfect setting for cozying up on quiet evenings with a drink and a book, or gathering the whole family for games and giggles.
These revived spaces delivered far more than a transformed backyard for the Serranos. “I feel like the value for what you get when you upgrade your yard is underrated,” Chrissy says. “You can redo your living room or a bathroom or something, and it’s really nice. But with this, I feel like I’ve actually brought something tangible that has altered how we live, and it’s given us way more time with our kids.”
LEFT Chrissy, Leo, Camille, Sofie and Jose gather on the durable ipe staircase.
RIGHT The Serranos also prioritize organization inside the home, including in the garage, where Elite Garage and Closets installed a streamlined organizational system to keep tools off the floor and easy to find.
White Oak Group installed the in-ground trampoline by Trampolines Down Under.
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all the
Past & Present
Historian Jean Bradley Anderson reflects on life, learning and the evolution of the city she helped chronicle
PHOTO BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
ourteen years after editor Amanda MacLaren first interviewed Jean Bradley Anderson about her fascination with the past, the two met again this spring in Jean’s Forest at Duke apartment to reflect on life, aging and the curiosity that continues to shape Jean’s days as she approaches her 102nd birthday on June 1. A Philadelphia native who moved to Durham in 1955 when her husband, Carl Anderson, joined the faculty at Duke University, Jean discovered her passion for local history after settling along the Eno River in Orange County and uncovering the stories buried in old cemeteries, land deeds and family records. She went on to become one of the region’s most respected historians and author of the definitive book, “Durham County: A History of Durham County, North Carolina,” originally published in 1990 and last revised in 2011.
*Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
When we spoke back in 2012, you reflected on how your life was shaped by inquisitiveness and discovery. How would you describe this most recent chapter of your life? As I have grown older and more [physically] limited, my interests have narrowed. I am dependent on books for my main entertainment, and my joy is reading. Next to that, I have become more interested in my family, more dependent on their lives for my interests, and the family has grown quite a lot. I have two children, five grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren, and they all live interesting lives. Keeping up with them helps me keep up with the world.
Where do they live? A number of them are in Columbia, South Carolina. My son lives there, and his older son lives there with his family of three children. I have a grandson who
lives in Copenhagen with his wife and child, who is about to turn 1 year old. My daughter’s husband coauthored a book last year [about Greek poet Constantine Cavafy] that made quite a splash, so he was asked to talk about it in many places, including Amsterdam and Greece. It’s been very fun watching the reviews come out and hearing about his adventures.
So it would be fair to say that you still have a strong sense of curiosity. Very much so, and my [electronic] tablet is my resource. I’m constantly looking things up. It’s remarkable, the information you can get. I feel out of touch when an election comes along, because I no longer get the newspaper, so I do a lot of reading, finding out who the people are.
When we spoke before, you mentioned that you were always optimistic about Durham. How do you feel about it today? Well, I feel there’s entirely too much forest being cut down to build what I believe are apartments. But if we need the apartments, I suppose they have to be put somewhere. I think we’re going to have to depend on technology to solve our problems. [For example,] I just read about a new industry of furs being made from plants, so we don’t have to kill animals. But along the environmental line, I’m a founding member of the Eno River Association, and I have been very happy about its expansion. When we started, everything was in [founder] Margaret [Nygard’s] pocket. Now, they have [several] employees, incredible growth, and it says a lot about people’s interest in the environment and willingness to support it.
What other changes do you feel have been most meaningful in Durham? The fact that the population is becoming so diverse and bringing in new ideas and new skills, and that’s all to the good. Having the universities around us that are doing important medical research, too.
What do you hope that people new to Durham understand about its history?
The entrepreneurship of the early settlers, and their willingness to take chances and invest their lives and their skills. [They were] stewards of the city, and willing to put in their time and energy on improving it and improving life here, back when Trinity College was brought to Durham, and then became Duke University. And then, the Research Triangle Park has been a remarkable thing for Durham.
What is your day-to-day life like here at The Forest at Duke? What brings you joy? We have a very full program of activities here, many classes of exercise, in and out of the pool and on the machines. We have lectures and movies and concerts and groups – book groups, poetry groups, art groups. There’s a full slate of things for people to do who have the interest and time to do it. We had a very interesting lecture recently on Josiah Wedgwood and the interests that he had in not only pottery, but in chemistry, and his involvement with The Lunar Society of Birmingham, which included scientists like James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine, and Erasmus Darwin, father of Charles. There’s a wonderful book about their friendship that I enjoyed reading very much.
Do you have any strong friendships? Yes. I have a very close friend whom I met about eight to 10 years ago here who played ping-pong when I was playing ping-pong, and she loved cats when I also loved cats. And she’s a professional musician, and I was very much a devotee of classical music. So we had those things in common. I have a few friends who I talk to about books.
When you talk about books, do you make recommendations or exchange books? Well, one of my friends recommends memoirs, and I have another friend who’s a specialist in medieval English literature, and when I was a graduate student, that was my major. So we can talk about those things. She gave a lecture about a book from the Middle Ages and another friend gave me a book about the art collection in Philadelphia that’s very famous, called the Barnes collection. Albert Barnes was a fanatic about art, and spent a fortune buying up Renoirs and Picassos and Matisses, all the Impressionists and even African art. He made a remarkable collection, which is now very beautifully housed on the [Benjamin Franklin] Parkway in Philadelphia, next to the Museum of Art. I saw it when it was in his own museum house in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
And you’re from Philadelphia, right? I was born there, and I lived there for 28 years till I was married, and then we lived in Vermont for three years before coming to Duke. I’ve been here since 1955.
"I SUPPOSE, IF YOU COULD MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT LIFE, IT IS THAT THINGS ARE CONNECTED IN A VERY STRANGE WAY, BUT THEY ARE CONNECTED. ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER, BUT YOU CAN’T POSSIBLY, AT LEAST IN MY CASE, STEER. YOU JUST GO.
– Jean Bradley Anderson
So you’ve really seen a lot of change. We spoke when we first met about your book on the history of Durham County. How do you reflect on that legacy now? Well, I think it’s probably way out of date. The most recent revision was 2011. I think today a lot of it you can find on the internet, and people seem to want to get their information quickly and easily, and I doubt that many people want to sit down and read a long, 600page book.
Well, I enjoyed it. What are some other pieces of work you produced that you are most proud of? I think my research into the early history of Durham that nobody had bothered to look into before. Understanding how these farms were settled and then became, because of the railroad, a different kind of place. And I find it very interesting reading about other places to see how they were formed –there are patterns. In the United States, communities would often form around courthouses, while in Britain, clusters would form around churches or mills.
So you’re still learning a lot about history. Oh, very much. I, alas, can’t go to the libraries and pore over other people’s correspondence, which was my joy. Do you remember when Durham was called “Fat City”?
I vaguely recall the moniker; when was it called that? Dr. [Walter] Kempner at Duke came up with the rice diet, and famous people came [to Durham] for the lifestyle. Burl Ives, a folk singer who was very widely known and listened to, came for the rice diet. Durham became known as the diet capital of the world [in the ’40s and ’50s]. Somebody could write a very entertaining book about that.
So what do you think contributes to a long and full life? I think luck plays an enormous part, and luck is often good genes, if you happen to inherit the right combinations. And, moderation in everything. Balance. No binges – of any kind.
Is there anything in your life that matters even more to you now than maybe it did in the past? Health, because that’s constant. I have had a very long and a very comfortable old age without worries. I had very good luck with my health, until I turned 100 when I got A-fib and pneumonia in the
same year. That was really the first time I had had anything more than the usual ills. I have a great deal of arthritis, which bothers me in my neck, and osteoporosis.
I can name all these physical changes, but I try to live one day at a time. I feel extremely lucky in my life and in my aging, because so many people are afflicted in their late 70s, early 80s, and I have had these extra 20 years; that was a great gift.
Now that I have the time to enjoy poetry and words, language means a lot more to me than it did before. The written word, I would say first of all, but music, too, and most important for me, has been memory. I’ve had a good memory ever since childhood.
Do you have any particular memories that you enjoy reflecting on? I’m often surprised by things my mind throws up. I try to remember things to tell my children about the past, and recently I was reading a poem called “The Barrel-Organ” by Alfred Noyes. The poem is about an organ, caroling across a golden street in the evening, when the sun
sinks low. “The music’s not immortal, but the world has made it sweet and [fulfilled] it with the sunset glow,” and so forth, and the rhythm is like the barrel organ.
I suddenly remembered [from my childhood], there was an organ grinder who came around late in the afternoon in the city streets with a barrel organ mounted on something like a wheelbarrow, only it had four wheels, and handles, and he’d lift and push it from street to street. He’d take up a stance in the middle of the block and play. It went through this repertoire of maybe six different tunes, so that they were always the same and always the same length of time and so forth. He just had to turn the handle. And he would go around often with a monkey on a string. If we heard the organ grinder, we’d run into my mother’s bedroom and she would get together a nickel and maybe a few pennies, and wrap them up in newspaper, and we’d throw them out the fourth-story window. The monkey went and picked up the coins, took them back to the organ grinder and tipped its hat. It was charming.
people &places
Night at the Museum
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE
The Museum of Life and Science celebrated its 80th anniversary during the sixth annual Invent the Night Gala on March 21, welcoming nearly 200 guests to the new Butterfly House Pavilion for an evening inspired by an enchanted woodland. Attendees enjoyed drinks, a seated dinner, auctions, interactive science activities and music while also exploring hands-on science experiences that highlighted the museum’s role as one of Durham’s treasured community institutions. The event raised more than $200,000 to support the museum’s programs and mission.
Jennifer Ingold Asbill and Seth Asbill.
Humberto Rodriguez and Maggie Woods.
Michael Lukins and Jordan Lukins get an up-close look at one of the museum’s scaly residents.
Brooks Pierce’s Susan Stutts and MLS Events Operations Coordinator Emma Scaggs.
Museum of Life and Science Vice President of Advancement
Disha Dewan, Director of Development Trish Lemm, Development Associate Nicolas Hoggatt and Development Officers Leesa Moore and Rachel Ripps.
Kendra Core King and Durham Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Nicholas King.
Blok Architecture’s Sasha Berghausen and MLS President & CEO Carrie Heinonen.
Ruta Slepetis, MLS board member Heidi Marks, Robert Wolpert and Brian Marks.
The Reel Deal
BY RENEE AMBROSO
Movie lovers filled downtown April 16-19 for the 28th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which brought 72 titles from established and emerging filmmakers to venues including the Carolina Theatre and the Durham Convention Center
Among the selections, 19 feature-length films and 15 shorts competed in the New Docs category for 10 awards and a combined $50,000 in cash prizes, and 15 docs were featured in this year’s thematic program, “Extremely Rich Theater: Staging, Performance and Elasticity in American Nonfiction Film,” curated by acclaimed filmmaker Robert Greene. The Durham Armory hosted both the opening night party and the festival’s awards barbecue.
The event – a partnership between Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies and Venue and Production Management – also included Speakeasy Conversations at The Durham Hotel that focused on ideas and issues central to the documentary film industry, along with filmmaker Q&As and free community screenings throughout the weekend.
Full Frame volunteers Julie King, Katherine Jeng and Annika Forde, Duke University Venue Productions Management Operations Director Quadiriah McCullough and Full Frame volunteer Alta Lindsay.
Filmmakers Rachael Morrison, David Alvarado and Victor Tadashi Suárez.
A Speakeasy Conversation at The Durham Hotel.
Full Frame Artist Services Coordinator Bridgette Cyr, New York Kurdish Film Festival Director Xeyal Qertel and Full Frame Programming Manager Katelyn Liu. Trevor Green, Clint Cartwright and Farrah Saman.
Full Frame Fellows Trista Panagakos, Sandy OrozcoRosaldo and Ashley Metzger.
Filmmakers Brydie O’Connor – recipient of the inaugural Nancy Buirski Award for her feature-length doc, “Barbara Forever” – and Claire Lupa Chandler.
PHOTO BY KAYLIN
PHOTO BY RACHEL
PHOTO
PHOTO BY KAYLIN TSUKAYAMA
PHOTO BY SAGE BATTLE
Note-Worthy Milestone
PHOTOGRAPHY BY VAYSGANT PHOTOGRAPHY
Kidznotes marked its 15th anniversary April 23 with the Harmonies in Bloom gala at the Durham Arts Council, drawing more than 100 supporters and raising more than $40,000. The celebration honored founders Kathleen Morrison; DAC Executive Director Katie Wyatt; and the late Lucia Peel Powe, whose daughter, Elizabeth Peel, accepted the recognition on her behalf.
Guests enjoyed performances from Kidznotes students, bid on items from local businesses during a silent auction and heard remarks from special guest Mayor Leonardo Williams, a former Kidznotes music educator. Proceeds from the evening supported the organization’s mission to make music education accessible to students in grades 1-12.
Elias Torre, Noel James, Mayor Leonardo Williams, Zweli Williams, Kidznotes Executive Director Thomas Howard Jr. and Kidznotes founders Kathleen Morrison and Katie Wyatt.
Abakua Latin Music performs live at the gala reception.
Elizabeth Peel honors the legacy of her mother, Kidznotes founder Lucia Peel Powe.
Kenneth Stewart leads the Kidznotes orchestra.
Students from C.E. Jordan High School, led by agriculture teacher Tyler D’Angelo – the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching’s 2025 Career & Technical Education Teacher of the Year –designed floral arrangements for the event.
Kidznotes student Adrienne shares how the program has shaped her life through music.
Go the Distance
The Angels Among Us 5K and Walk for Hope brought together a strong community turnout at Duke Medical Center Campus on April 25, with more than 5,000 people – including 279 teams and 3,543 runners and walkers – participating in support of brain tumor research. More than 150 survivors attended the event, which raised a record-breaking $2,880,388 for the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. The Triangle Media Partners team – which honors our late founder, Dan Shannon – reached our goal of $4,000.
Triangle Media Partners President Rory Gillis and her children, Lennox Gillis, 8, and Rowan Gillis, 10, with Durham Magazine Executive Editor Amanda MacLaren.
Duke neuro-oncologist Dr. Justin Low and Triangle Media Partners co-founder Ellen Shannon.
New retail incubator Market on Market Street celebrated its grand opening Feb. 20. Located in the former Empower Dance studio space next to The Parlour, the concept creates a more affordable and accessible path to storefront ownership for local entrepreneurs and is currently anchored by three women-of-color-owned businesses: Be Well Co., a natural, vegan body care brand by Briana Nicole; BLNK SPCE Designs, Charita Snow’s playful shop filled with Durham-inspired gifts and goods; and EKO, an eco-conscious brand offering handmade jewelry and bath products from mother-daughter duo Lisa Denson and Alexis Denson The retail hub also features a trinket trove from artist Marina Fela-Castillo and her studio, Pintamar – adding even more character to this community-focused marketplace.
Alana Alston browses the handmade goods inside the shop.
Philshaunda Thompson, aka DJ PhilyRenae, curates the music during the opening.
Be Well Co.’s Briana Nicole, BLNK SPCE Designs’ Charita Snow, EKO’s Lisa Denson and Downtown Durham Inc. President and CEO Nicole Thompson cut the ribbon to officially open Market on Market Street.
Artist Marina Fela-Castillo of Pintamar next to her trinket stop.
Home Sweet Harper’s Home
BY SHARON KINSELLA
Harper’s Home, a nonprofit that provides cozy, compassionate, no-cost short-term housing for families traveling more than 40 miles for care at Duke Children’s, broke ground April 14 on its first residential cottages in Durham.
The Strebor Street homes, constructed by Haven Design|Build, mark the first phase of a larger development that will eventually include two duplexes and two accessory dwelling units, ultimately serving six families. Located less than 2 miles from the hospital, the project expands on a housing model previously piloted through two rental homes in Northgate Park Each private, family-centered home is designed with dignity, comfort and the realities of extended medical stays in mind, with each residence featuring two bedrooms, a full kitchen and in-unit laundry.
Founder Heather Hindin and her daughter, Harper Harrell – who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 8 and treated at Duke Children’s – delivered opening remarks. Additional speakers included Haven Design|Build Executive Director Drew Helm, Harper’s Home board chair Shaun Horrigan and Duke University Hospital Children’s Services Vice President
Matthew Rougeux.
The V Foundation for Cancer Research Brand Communications Director Rebecca Erquitt, West & Woodall Realtor Brooke Fulford and The V Foundation Director of Content Heather Burns.
Dr. Ann Reed and Duke University Hospital Children’s Services Vice President Matthew Rougeux.
Judy Hindin and Emily Krzyzewski Center Chief Financial and Operating Officer Lauren Gardner.
Haven Design|Build’s John Durkee, Zach Sunderland and Tyler Young.
Harper’s Home board members Carly Eckert and Nadia Rajjoub hold a support beam that will become a part of one of the homes as Mikaya Thurmond adds her name.
Harper’s Home board chair Shaun Horrigan.
Heather Hindin, Durham Magazine’s Sharon Kinsella and Harper Harrell.
Taking Care of Business
BY CASSIDY TRIPP | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUTHPHOTO
The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce members and staff gathered at the Carolina Theatre March 17 for the economic development organization’s annual meeting, bringing together local leaders to celebrate milestones from the past year and set the tone for 2026. President and CEO Geoff Durham hosted the fifth installment of “The Durham Show,” outlining the Chamber’s vision for growth in the year ahead. “Our focus is clear: expand our reach, amplify our message and create innovative pathways that attract investment, talent and opportunity to Durham,” he said. Mayor Leonardo Williams and Durham County Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Lee joined the program for a panel discussion, offering a behind-thescenes look at the city’s local leadership. A defining moment of the evening came with the ceremonial passing of the gavel from 2025 Chamber board chair Dom Cole Johnson to incoming 2026 chair Robert Nelson, both of whom are committed to strengthening Durham’s business community. The Chamber finished the night out at the Durham Convention Center with a renewed sense of purpose, looking ahead to deepen its impact and continue shaping the city’s economic future.
Durham Convention Center Assistant General Manager Nick Reid, Durham Chamber Executive Administrative Assistant Eileen Indorato and Director of Member Relations Brandon Pinnix.
Downtown Durham Inc.’s Chris Reid, Anna Branly, Abby Beissel, Heather Wilson and Tiffany Bashore.
Research Triangle Park Vice President of Planning & Public Policy Travis Crayton and Black Robin Ventures’ Amos Cooper Jr.
Durham Chamber President and CEO Geoff Durham.
Durham Chamber VP of Economic Development Matt Gladdek, City of Durham Economic & Workforce Development’s Glenda Morrow and Moss+Ross partner Brooke Jenkins.
Outgoing Chamber board chair Dom Cole Johnson passes the gavel to incoming chair Robert Nelson.
Durham County Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Lee and Mayor Leonardo Williams.
Every day, neighbors in our community come to Durham Rescue Mission searching for hope. What they find is more than food:
Ӄ Safe shelter
Ӄ Clean clothing
Ӄ Counseling and recovery
Ӄ Job training and a path forward Because of community support, over 577,000 meals and 187,000 nights of shelter were provided in a single year. This isn’t just relief. It’s restoration.
Downtown on Deck
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUTHPHOTO
Close to 350 community leaders, business owners and downtown stakeholders gathered at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park April 22 for Downtown Durham Inc.’s annual State of Downtown Durham event. Centered around the theme “Powered by People, Possibility and Place,” the program featured updates from DDI President and CEO Nicole Thompson and guests – from M Restaurants’ Mike Lee to Jack Dunn of Chartwell Property Group – on the future of downtown, including progress tied to the newly adopted Downtown Durham Blueprint: 2035 plan. Attendees also enjoyed a post-presentation reception and networking event featuring bites and beverages from American Tobacco Campus favorites including Boricua Soul, Ment Beverage Co., Parker and Otis, Seraphine and Zweli’s Ekhaya as well as soon-to-open East of Texas and Lutra Cafe and Bakery.
Interim
Ashanti Brown gives an update on downtown’s affordable housing communities, including the planned 252-unit Villages
A Swanky Affair’s Amanda Scott, Mode Consignment’s Lauren Elmore and Heart of NC Weddings’ Jenna Parks.
Boricua Soul’s Toriano Fredericks and Serena Fredericks.
Durham Central Park Executive Director
Erin Kauffman, UV Hospitality owner
Michelle Vanderwalker and Dosirak founder Kristine Suh, who is slated to open Korean convenience store Dosirak Outpost in DDI’s incubator space at 307 W. Main St. this summer.
Gateway Building Company owners Austin Moore and Pete Zseleczky, Elmwood Group founder Chip Dillard, The Fruit owner Tim Walter and Arcana owner Erin Karcher.
Durham Housing Authority
Chief Executive Officer
of Hayti.
McAdams Chief Growth + Strategy Officer Iona Thomas shares that the Durham Rail Trail project is at 90% design and will start construction in early 2027.
Durham County Commissioner Wendy Jacobs, DDI President and CEO Nicole Thompson, Durham Magazine’s Amanda MacLaren and County Commissioner Michelle Burton.
ALI | HEIJMEN co-founder Farad Ali and CBC Real Estate Director of Government and Community Partnerships Evan Covington Chavez.
Jessica Davis & Jadda Richardson
BY ALISON GRAU PHOTO COURTESY OF MEMORIES PHOTO AND VIDEO
Occupations Jessica serves as senior vice president and office leader at the north Durham branch of Pinnacle Financial Partners, while Jadda works as a lead business systems analyst for Ferguson, a plumbing and HVAC supply distributor.
Crossed Paths Jessica and Jadda connected through a mutual friend on Instagram after Jessica shared videos of her son playing flag football. Jadda reached out to ask whether her son played for the Durham Eagles youth football team, and Jessica jokingly replied, “If anything, he would play for the Steelers.” Jadda shared that his son also played football, and the lighthearted exchange sparked an instant affinity as the two bonded over their family life.
They met for their first date in spring 2023 at The Willard Rooftop in Raleigh. After dinner, Jadda walked Jessica to her car, but neither wanted the evening to end. The conversation flowed so easily that
the pair ended up talking for hours, and the relationship quickly blossomed from there.
The Proposal Jadda planned a proposal Jessica never saw coming. In November 2024, the couple stopped for dinner at their favorite downtown Apex restaurant, Sushi Suyu, before heading to an Apex High School football game, where Jessica’s daughter performed with the band. Midway through the meal, Jadda passed Jessica a note that read, “Will you marry me? Check yes or no.” When she looked up, he was down on one knee, ring in hand.
Now, “I Do” Jessica and Jadda plan to marry at Moon Palace Jamaica, a luxury resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. After the celebration, the pair will return home to continue building a life together with their blended family in northeast Durham.
Admas Belay & Megan Mungall
BY REBEKAH MANN | PHOTOGRAPHY
BY LAURA MEMORY PHOTOGRAPHY
Wedding Date Feb. 15, 2025
Occupations Megan is a program manager at Alma, a mental health care company; Admas works for boutique consulting firm Genioo. Crossed Paths Admas grew up in California while Megan was born in Reston, Virginia, and raised in Raleigh. The pair met in fall 2017 while working at a New York City-based tech startup. Friendship soon turned into something more, and they began dating at the end of 2018. The Proposal Megan suspected a proposal might come in fall 2023 after the couple selected a Shahla Karimi engagement ring together. They spent Nov. 11 revisiting favorite spots around Manhattan, and Megan assumed Admas would pop the question somewhere along the way. By the time they returned home, she had given up on the idea – until they walked into their apartment and found Admas’ sister, Thea Belay, waiting with a camera. “He proposed in our living room,” Megan says, “in the home we had built together and loved so dearly.” Admas also arranged a surprise visit from members of both families, and the group celebrated together that evening. The Big Day Megan and Admas hosted their ceremony and reception at The Cookery, where American Party Rentals helped set the ambiance with candlelight and accents of deep red and blush pink, bringing their modern Valentine’s Day-inspired vision to life.
Festivities began with a rehearsal dinner at Mothers & Sons Trattoria and a welcome party at The Oak House Durham before wrapping up with a farewell brunch at Yonder Coffee at The Daily Beer Bar Megan and Admas also booked a suite at The Durham Hotel, where staff surprised them with an upgrade to the penthouse. “We shared our vows there over breakfast on Saturday morning, and it was one of the most special moments of the weekend for us,” Megan says.
Favorite Moments “My favorite wedding detail was the fireplace mantle Admas built with my dad, [Stephen Mungall], and the florals on it that Hayley [Singleton], our event planner [from An Event to Remember], designed so beautifully,” Megan says. “Seeing the florals for the first time took my breath away.”
Admas says he’ll always treasure a quiet moment the newlyweds shared after the ceremony. “Megan and I went into the back room, just the two of us, to enjoy a cocktail and appetizers and talk,” he says. “It was so nice having that time together on a night that felt like it went by so quickly.”
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